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On Monday, members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Division 269 ratified a new agreement with MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) by a four-to-one majority.

Covering 420 locomotive engineers, the contract expires on June 15, 2010.

The agreement calls for wage increases of 4 percent retroactive to Jan. 1, 2007; 3.5 percent on Jan. 1, 2008; and 3 percent on Jan. 1, 2009. The contract also includes a fully paid medical insurance plan and maintains a provision that enables workers with 30 or more years of service to retire at age 55 with no pension reduction.

Because the contract was negotiated as part of a coalition of 10 unions representing each craft at LIRR, it doesn’t address work rules. After each union ratifies their pact, they will begin one-on-one negotiations with the railroad regarding craft-specific work rules.