BLET does not extend cooling-off period but continues to bargain
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET)
declined to agree to extend the final statutory “cooling-off”
period 60 days by a 5:00 p.m. deadline set by the nation’s rail
carriers, choosing instead to continue its effort to arrive at a
voluntary settlement within the time frame set forth in the
Railway Labor Act.
Fighting for your best interest
Thursday, November 17, 2011
A message from BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce The BLET
and the other unions who have not settled their contract
differences are in the final stages of the negotiating process
that is set forth in the Railway Labor Act. With PEB 243’s
report and recommendations in hand, both the Unions and the
Carriers must now make some very important decisions.
Ultimately, one of two things will happen.
PEB 243 report leaves much unfinished business
Monday, November 07, 2011
Presidential Emergency Board No. 243 has issued its Report to
President Obama and its recommendations for settlement of the
national wage/rules/benefits dispute between 11 unions,
including the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET),
and most of the nation’s Class I railroads.
Reminder: Annual open enrollment deadline for BLET members &
families is November 4
Friday, October 28, 2011
As a follow-up to the National Division’s News Flash of October
11, all open enrollment materials must be returned to Railroad
Enrollment Services and postmarked no later than November 4,
2011. Enrollment in the H&W Plan will provide coverage for
Railroad employees and their eligible dependents effective
January 1, 2012. The enrollment period for the H&W Plan began on
October 3, 2011 and runs through November 4, 2011.
BLET contract dispute in hands of PEB
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
With the conclusion of hearings held by Presidential Emergency
Board (PEB) No. 243 on October 20, the nearly two-year-old
dispute over national wages, work rules and health and welfare
benefits between 11 rail unions and the nation’s largest freight
carriers is moving toward final resolution.
Thanks for joining the fight
Friday, October 14, 2011
As you all know, the deadline for us to have the right to
exercise self help came perilously close to lapsing before
President Obama signed an Executive Order on October 6th
appointing a Presidential Emergency Board to hear the dispute
and issue recommendations. Like all of you, the National
Division was prepared to exercise self help in the form of a
strike, but the Executive Order triggered additional steps of
the Railway Labor Act delaying our right to do so.
Open enrollment begins November 1, 2011 for BLET Short Term
Disability plan
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Open Enrollment for 2012 under the BLET’s Short Term Disability
insurance plan begins on November 1, 2011 and runs through
December 15, 2011.
Brown reelected Minnesota State Legislative Board Chairman
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
David K. Brown was reelected by acclamation to a second term as
Chairman of the Minnesota State Legislative Board at their
quadrennial meeting in Bloomington, Minn., September 27-29,
2011.
Important health care announcement: Annual open enrollment for
BLET members & families
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Beginning September 26, 2011, Railroad Enrollment Services will
begin mailing the annual enrollment packages to eligible
Railroad employees for coverage under The Railroad Employees
National Health and Welfare Plan (H&W Plan). Enrollment in the
H&W Plan will provide coverage for Railroad employees and their
eligible dependents effective January 1, 2012. The enrollment
period for the H&W Plan will begin on October 3, 2011 and run
through November 4, 2011.
Obama appoints PEB 243 to investigate BLET contract dispute
Thursday, October 06, 2011
President Barack Obama today established Emergency Board (PEB)
No. 243, to investigate and make recommendations for settlement
of the current disputes between the Rail Labor Bargaining
Coalition (RLBC) and five other unions, and the National
Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC). The Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) is one of the 6 unions
that comprise the RLBC.
Online option added for strike authorization vote
CLEVELAND, September 28 — The BLET National Division and
TrueBallot, Inc., have added an online voting option to enable
members to bypass the telephonic voting system in the strike
authorization vote that is currently underway.
Senate confirms Walt Barrows to RRB Labor Member post
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
On September 26, the U.S. Senate confirmed Walter A. Barrows to
serve as the Labor Member of the Railroad Retirement Board.
BLET to hold strike authorization vote
Friday, September 16, 2011
In a conference call held with all BLET General Chairmen
yesterday morning, National President Dennis R. Pierce announced
that preparations are underway to poll members to authorize a
strike in the event one becomes necessary to attain the
Organization’s bargaining goals.
NMB proffers arbitration in national contract dispute
Thursday, September 08, 2011
On Friday September 2, 2011, the National Mediation Board (NMB)
urged the unions comprising the Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition
(RLBC) and the carriers represented by the National Carriers’
Conference Committee to submit their unresolved national
contract dispute to binding arbitration pursuant to Section 5,
First and Section 7 of the Railway Labor Act, as amended (RLA). |
