BLET Teamsters at SEPTA, CPKC Soo Line Ratify New Contracts
On the CPKC Soo Line, 300 locomotive engineers will earn compounded raises of 18.8% over the length of the five-year agreement in addition to strong improvements to work rules.
Health and welfare benefits remain nationally negotiated. General Chairman Nick Mugavero said the new contract also contains several work rule improvements that are important to the members:
- Overtime after 12 hours daily on 4/3 assignments.
- Ability to mark Extra Board position weekly on 5/2 and 4/3 work week schedule.
- Increased meal allowance.
- If double-pillowed, will immediately be placed first out and paid held away after 12 hours.
- Ability to “drop turn,” or essentially not be called to go on duty any later than 1200 the day before vacation to ensure they begin their vacation on time.
The negotiating team consisted of General Chairman Mugavero and National Vice President Pete Semenek. The new agreement covers approximately 300 CPKC locomotive engineers on the Soo Line property who operate trains in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin.
“CPKC’s Soo Line would not run if it weren’t for hundreds of hardworking BLET Teamsters,” said Semenek. “This new contract reflects the commitment they bring to work every single day.”
At SEPTA, 300 workers voted to ratify a short-term contract to raise wages by 5% over the next year. “This follows months of fierce, coordinated advocacy from the Teamsters Rail Conference to stave off substantial budget shortfalls at the Pennsylvania-based transit authority,” the union said.
The negotiating team consisted of General Chairman Don Hill, First Vice Chairman Maurice Landon, and Second Vice Chairman Terrence Sanchious, with assistance from National Vice President Jim Louis.
“This contract ensures the hard work of SEPTA’s BLET Teamsters does not go unrecognized as the agency looks ahead to the future,” said Louis. “We look forward to building on this agreement to ensure our members’ needs and concerns are addressed for years to come.”
Additionally, the BLET has reached a tentative agreement with the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway (NYSW). Ballots were mailed in late November.
If ratified, the tentative agreement would provide wage increases and work rule improvements. Additionally, if ratified, NYSW members would be covered by the National Health and Welfare Plan.
The NYS&W members belong to BLET 521 (Hawthorne, N.J.) and are represented by the CP Rail-D&H/PanAm (ST)/SL&A General Committee of Adjustment. The negotiating team consisted of General Chairman Ben Martin, Vice General Chairman Brian Plant, Division 521 Local Chairman Scott Samuel, and assigned National Vice President James Logan.
The NYS&W operates more than 400 miles of track in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. It connects with Class I railroads CSX and Norfolk Southern (NS). Ballots are due by Monday, Dec. 29.
