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BLET WEEKLY NEWS RECAP Nov 3
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Follow the BLET online and stay up-to-date on all the latest union news and information.
Click the icons below to visit the BLET's social media pages and website.
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| NEW JERSEY: BLET members take fight for a fair contract at NJ Transit to the State Senate and Assembly |
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Using new technology that makes it easy for BLET members and their families to send letters to government leaders, engineers in New Jersey are reaching out to their legislative representatives with messages about NJ Transit’s misplaced priorities, wasteful spending, and stalling at the bargaining table. Union activists are seeking support for BLET’s ongoing contract campaign. NJ Transit’s engineers have gone four years without a raise. In September, NJ Transit’s engineers voted to authorize a strike. The BLET’s mobilization effort comes at a critical time as all members of New Jersey’s State Assembly and State Senate are up for reelection on November 7.
Rather than just a form letter, union members in New Jersey and their supporters have the ability to easily add text reflecting their personal views to the core advocacy message being used this week in the Garden State. The software program also directs their message to the correct address. Below is an example of the messages being sent to statehouse email addresses:
“I want to call to your attention that locomotive engineers employed by New Jersey Transit, members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, have been working without a pay increase for the past four years. NJT's managers have unwisely chosen to prioritize spending $440 million for lavish new executive offices at a time when the people who keep the trains moving haven't seen a dime.”
“Right now, with only one exception, NJ Transit's engineers are the lowest paid locomotive engineers in commuter rail service in the United States. We need your help. Millions spent so bureaucrats can enjoy penthouse views and not a dime for train crews is wrong and no way to run a railroad that New Jersey's citizens depend on.”
“As my representative in Trenton please use your influence to support fair treatment and raises for locomotive engineers who have gone four years without an increase in pay — the essential workers who kept the trains moving during the worst days of the pandemic — please tell NJT's managers to stop stalling and settle a contract with BLET that brings NJT's engineers closer to the wage rates at other commuter railroads.”
More than 1,000 letters from constituents and likely voters — who are either BLET members, family members or members of the Teamsters — have been blasted over the past week to all members of the State Senate and Assembly. |
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VIRGINIA: BLET reaches tentative agreement with Keolis Rail Services
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| The tentative contract with Keolis Rail Services Virginia would provide general wage increases compounded at 22.2% over the life of the agreement. (Photo courtesy of VRE) |
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A contract ratification vote is underway for BLET members who work for Keolis Rail Services Virginia. Ballots were mailed this week to members to vote on a tentative on-property agreement governing rates of pay and health care benefits for 11 locomotive engineers who run trains for Virginia Railway Express (VRE).
The five-year tentative deal includes full retroactive payments dating to 2021 and runs through 2025. It would provide general wage increases compounded at 22.2% over the life of the agreement (2% in 2021, 5% in 2022, 5% in 2023, 4% in 2024 and 4.5% in 2025). There are no work rule changes, and membership contributions to health and welfare will be capped beginning in 2025 if the agreement is ratified.
BLET members working for VRE will receive a mailing from the BLET National Division next week with voting instructions. The deadline for receipt of ballots is at 2:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. Members who are eligible and have not received a ballot by Wednesday, November 15, 2023, should call the National Division at (216) 241-2630, extension 222. When connected with the extension, please leave the following information:
- your name, address and phone number;
- the division to which you belong;
- the date you were promoted to locomotive engineer;
- your date of birth; and
- the last four digits of your Social Security number.
However, e-mail requests for ballots will not be accepted because personal information is required to verify eligibility before a ballot can be issued.
The negotiating team consists of General Chairman Mark B. Kenny, Vice General Chairman Patrick W. Darcy Jr., and Division 14 Local Chairman Jamie Wooldridge.
VRE provides commuter rail service from the Northern Virginia suburbs to Alexandria, Crystal City, and downtown Washington, D.C., along the I-66 and I-95 corridors. |
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| REMINDER: Get out and vote on Tuesday, November 7 |
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| Support union and labor-friendly candidates on election day! |
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Tuesday, November 7, is election day in most states. BLET members and their families are encouraged to get to the polls and make Election Day count for working families. Many of the rail safety improvements Rail Labor has secured in recent years have been on the state level. Recent two-person crew victories in Ohio, Minnesota, and Kansas are thanks in part to labor-friendly politicians in each state.
On November 7, labor-endorsed candidates for governor are on the ballot in Kentucky and Mississippi, and essentially the entire state legislature is up for grabs in Virginia and New Jersey. Supporting pro-labor and pro-union candidates will go a long way toward making our industry safer. We encourage members to make their voices heard on Election Day 2023. |
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SEPTA STRIKE VOTE: Request replacement ballots by November 9
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Last week, the BLET National Division mailed ballots and voting instructions to members working at SEPTA regarding a strike authorization vote. The deadline for receipt of ballots is at noon Eastern time on Monday, November 20, 2023. Members who are eligible and have not received a strike authorization packet by Thursday, November 9, 2023, should call the National Division at (216) 241-2630, extension 222. When connected with the extension, please leave the following information:
- your name, address and phone number;
- the division to which you belong;
- the date you were promoted to locomotive engineer;
- 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.
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| RAILROAD RETIREMENT: Monthly annuities, earnings limits will increase in 2024 |
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Most railroad retirement annuities, like social security benefits, will increase in January 2024. Cost-of-living increases are calculated in both the tier I and tier II portions of a railroad retirement annuity. The tier I portion, like social security benefits, will increase by 3.2 percent, which is the percentage of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rise. The tier II portion will go up by 1.0 percent, which is 32.5 percent of the CPI increase. This follows an 8.7 percent increase in the tier I portion and a 2.8 percent increase in the tier II portion of railroad retirement annuities in January 2023.
Additionally, railroad retirement annuitants subject to earnings restrictions can earn more in 2024 without having their benefits reduced due to increased limits indexed to average national wage increases. For those under full retirement age throughout 2024, the exempt earnings amount rises to $22,320 from $21,240 in 2023. For beneficiaries attaining full retirement age in 2024, the exempt earnings amount, for the months before the month full retirement age is attained, increases to $59,520 in 2024 from $56,520 in 2023.
Learn more at the Railroad Retirement Board website. |
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| BLET SOCIAL MEDIA: Join us today! |
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Since the start of the year, the BLET National Division has invested more time and resources into its various social media outlets. It is the best place to get the latest news.
The BLET created a presence on Instagram and Twitter (now known as X) during 2023, and also expanded to its offerings on Facebook. In August, the National Division launched a private members-only Facebook group. At over 1,200 members, the page is for active and retired members only — company managers are not allowed. Those wishing to comment on our posts in a protected, private group setting are strongly encouraged to join the new private Facebook group.
To get involved, please visit the National Division website. |
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Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen · 7061 East Pleasant Valley Road · Independence, OH 44131 · USA
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