UP/BLET
BLET on July 22 announced that it has reached a tentative agreement with UP that would provide a general wage increase of 3% to approximately 6,000 BLET members employed at UP, if ratified.
The proposed “interim raise” is described in the balloting materials that are being mailed to members: “As part of our ongoing Section 6 bargaining with Union Pacific, your BLET leadership has been presented with a proposal from the Carrier to provide a 3% wage increase effective September 1, 2025. This proposal is intended as an interim raise while we continue full contract negotiations.” BLET and UP are engaged in on-property negotiations for the current round of bargaining.
The interim raise, BLET says, is temporary and will be replaced by the wage increases agreed to in the final contract settlement. If the final agreement includes retroactive pay, the amount already paid under this interim deal will not be included in the calculation of the retroactive payments.
The BLET’s Union Pacific General Chairmen involved in negotiations include Kyle Bagby, UP-Central Region; Chad Lambert, UP-Eastern District; Dick Crow, UP Northern Region; Scott Alexander, UP-Southern Region; Brian Carr, UP-Western Lines; and Will Wallace, UP-Western Region. They have received assistance from National President Mark Wallace, First Vice-President Gary Best, and National Vice President Kevin Sexton.
UP
UP announced via LinkedIn that it recently was awarded the 2024 Toyota Logistics Excellence Award in Customer Service, the Kaizen Excellence Award for continuous improvement and the overall President’s Award. This marks the third year in a row that the Class I received the overall President’s Award and the fourth consecutive year earning the Customer Service and Kaizen awards.
UP ships Toyota North America vehicles and auto parts throughout North America. Toyota Logistics Services measures the “outstanding performance” of its logistics suppliers, including trucking companies, ocean carriers, and North American Class I railroads.
