The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) on May 2 announced that it has reached a tentative agreement with Pittsburgh, Pa.-based Union Railroad, a Class III switching railroad with 128 miles of track that primarily serves the area’s steel plants.
If approved by union members, the contract, which governs pay, benefits, and work rules, will run through July 2028 and provide for a $500 signing bonus and general wage increases of 4.0% in 2024, 4.0% in 2025, 3.5% in 2026, and 3.5% in 2027, according to BLET.
Additional provisions include:
- Adjustments to personal leave provisions, including increased leave days and elimination of 48-hour notice requirement.
- Increased 401(k) employer match from $2,000 annually to $3,750 annually.
Members governed by the tentative agreement belong to BLET Division 16, the union’s division for short line railroads. The negotiating team consisted of Grievance Chairman Stephen Linn, National Vice President James Logan, and National Vice President Randy Fannon.
Ballots and supplemental materials were mailed out last week and are due on Thursday, May 22.
