advertisement

---

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) plans to poll members to gather ideas on how to better prepare for an upcoming round of national contract negotiations with railroads.

The union is mailing a six-page survey to 2,000 randomly selected members to gain input on a variety of issues and obtain demographic information. The BLET also is conducting an online survey. Random surveys are due April 15 and online surveys must be completed by April 30.

The union is eligible to serve Section 6 notices — an advance notification of its intent to engage in contract negotiations — to railroads regarding a new national agreement and new agreement with Amtrak beginning on Nov. 1.

Collective bargaining agreements don’t expire under the Railway Labor Act, but become amendable at the end of their term. The BLET’s current national contract — which was ratified in June 2007 and retroactive to July 2005 — becomes amendable on January 1, 2010. The parties agreed in 2007 that notices can be served 60 days before the agreement becomes amendable.