Headline News
BLET Reaches Tentative Agreement With Connecticut Southern Railroad
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a Tentative Agreement with the Connecticut Southern Railroad (CSOR) governing rates of pay, benefits and work rules for operating employees.
On March 9, 2018, ballots, instructions, and a synopsis of the agreement were mailed to active members working for the CSOR. Voting will conclude on Monday, April 9. Members who have not received a ballot by Friday, March 23, should request a replacement by calling the BLET National Division at (216) 241-2630, ext. 222. When connected with the extension, please leave the following information:
• your name, address and phone number;
• the division to which you belong;
• 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.
Operating employees at the formerly non-union CSOR voted unanimously to join the Brotherhood in February of 2008. They ratified their first-ever union contract went in October of 2008, and ratified their second BLET agreement in 2012. They are a part of the BLET’s Combined STR-DH-SLR-MMA General Committee of Adjustment.
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce encouraged all CSOR members to closely review the March 9 ratification packet and to make sure they attend a Division meeting or contact the General Committee of Adjustment office with any questions they might have on the issues.
“The stakes are too high for you not to be involved in your union,” President Pierce said. “I encourage all of our Connecticut Southern Brothers to become educated on the issues and to participate in this most important process of union democracy.”
The CSOR is a Genesee & Wyoming subsidiary headquartered in Hartford, Conn., which operates over 90 miles of leased and owned tracks. It interchanges with CSX (Springfield, Mass. and New Haven, Conn.); Central New England Railroad (Hartford, Conn.); Providence and Worcester Railroad (Hartford, Conn.); and the Pan Am Southern Railroad (Berlin, Conn.).
To read the original posting on the BLET’s website, click here.