LIRR, Metra workers ratify contracts with BLET

BLET is one of five unions that began a three-day strike on May 16 after coalition representatives and the MTA were unable to come to an agreement after more than three years of unsuccessful bargaining. The strike ended on May 19 when the unions and MTA came to a tentative agreement. The four other unions in the coalition — the Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM) and the International Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 19, the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) ratified their respective contracts earlier this month. Meanwhile, BLET members last week ratified a new seven-year agreement with the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corp. (Metra), BLET officials said. The deal covers about 250 BLET members who work as locomotive engineers for Metra, which serves the six-county Chicago area with 243 stations over 11 routes totaling nearly 500 route miles. The contract provides updated compensation structures, work rules, seniority protections, assignment procedures, benefits, discipline standards and operational practices; it was ratified by an 84% majority, BLET officials said.