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BNSF Railway Co. and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) recently reached a tentative “BNSF-specific” agreement. The contract would augment a tentative national agreement between the union and National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC), which bargains for 32 U.S. railroads, including the Class Is.

Subject to ratification by BLET members and contingent on the national agreement’s ratification, the BNSF/BLET pact would provide profit sharing and secure certain job responsibilities, particularly those affected as train-control technology advances. The agreement also would increase wages and improve health and welfare benefits.

“We appreciate the BLET’s … willingness to discuss progressive approaches to work and pay issues on a BNSF-specific basis,” said BNSF Vice President of Labor Relations John Fleps in a prepared statement.

In late February, the NCCC and Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition — which represents seven rail labor unions including the BLET — reached a tentative five-year national agreement.