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Last week, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) reached a tentative five-year agreement with Montana Rail Link (MRL).

Covering 400 operating employees, the contract would provide a 16 percent general wage increase over the life of the agreement and a $1,000 signing bonus for each worker.

BLET has mailed ratification materials to MRL members. Ballots are due in late June. If ratified, the contract would be retroactive to April 1.

MRL operates more than 900 track miles in Montana, Idaho and Washington, employs about 1,000 people, and interchanges with BNSF Railway Co. and Union Pacific Railroad.