BLET reaches tentative agreement with Portland & Western

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, May 22 — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative agreement with the Portland & Western/ Willamette & Pacific Railroad (PNW). Ballots were mailed today to active members of the BLET employed by the PNW who are eligible to vote in the ratification of this agreement.

Ballots are due by 2:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Monday, June 22. The tentative agreement governs rates of pay, benefits and work rules for approximately 70 members.

Members who are eligible and have not received a ratification packet by Saturday, May 30 should call the National Division at (216) 241-2630, extension 222. When connected with the extension, please leave the following information:

• Your name, address and phone number;
• The division to which you belong;
• The date you were promoted to locomotive engineer;
• Your date of birth; and
• The last four digits of your Social Security number.

E-mail requests for ballots will not be accepted because personal information is required to verify eligibility before a ballot can be issued.

The BLET first organized the PNW property in 2004, and the PNW membership belongs to Division 416 and is represented by the BLET’s Union Pacific-Western Region General Committee of Adjustment.

BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce urged all eligible members to cast their ballots in the ratification process. “Voting on contract agreements is one of the most important responsibilities of a union member,” President Pierce said. “I encourage all of our Portland & Western members to study this proposed contract and to cast their vote in the ratification process.”

The Portland and Western Railroad is a 466-mile Class II railroad serving the State of Oregon, and is a Genesee & Wyoming subsidiary. Its top commodities include chemicals, plastics, lumber, forest products, minerals, stone, pulp and paper

Friday, May 22, 2020
bentley@ble-t.org