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Post Info TOPIC: BLET to hold strike authorization vote


Force Majeure

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BLET to hold strike authorization vote
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http://www.ble-t.org/pr/news/newsflash.asp?id=5180

 

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 BLET to hold strike authorization vote

CLEVELAND, September 16 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 Organizations bargaining goals.

The National Mediation Board released the BLET and several other Rail Labor unions from mediation with rail carriers on September 6, triggering a 30-day cooling off period, which expires at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on October 7, 2011. At that point self-help is available to the parties, unless President Obama appoints a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) pursuant to Section 10 of the Railway Labor Act. A PEB would halt any strike or lock out by the parties, and would investigate and issue a report and recommendations concerning the dispute.

BLET members who are employed on the railroads where the dispute exists and where the BLET has representation rights for their craft are eligible to participate in the strike authorization vote. The following members may participate in the vote:

All active locomotive engineers, except company officers, employed by the Belt Railway Company of Chicago.
All active locomotive engineers, except company officers, employed by BNSF Railway.
All active locomotive engineers, except company officers, employed by Consolidated Rail Corporation.
All active locomotive engineers, except company officers, employed by CSX Transportation.
All active locomotive engineers, except company officers, employed by the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad Company.
All active locomotive engineers, except company officers, employed by Kansas City Southern Railway Company, including the following subsidiaries: Kansas City Southern Railway; Louisiana and Arkansas Railway; MidSouth Rail Corporation; Gateway Western Railway; SouthRail Corporation; and Texas Mexican Railway Company (locomotive engineers and train service employees).
All active locomotive engineers, except company officers, employed by Longview Switching Company.
All active locomotive engineers, except company officers, employed by Norfolk Southern Company.
All active locomotive engineers, except company officers, employed by Portland Terminal Railroad Company.
All active locomotive engineers, except company officers, employed by Soo Line Railroad Company d.b.a. Canadian Pacific.
All active locomotive engineers, except company officers, employed by Union Pacific Railroad Company.
All active locomotive engineers, except company officers, employed by Winston Salem Southbound Railway Company.

Beginning early next week, these members will receive a mailing from TrueBallot with toll-free voting instructions. Voting will begin at 11:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, September 20, and members will have until 10:00 a.m. EDT on Monday, October 3 to cast their votes. Authorization does not mean a strike will occur, nor does it mean that all railroads polled may be struck.

The BLET National Division has retained TrueBallot, Inc., to conduct the strike authorization vote via telephone. TrueBallot, which is a nationally-renowned election service provider, previously conducted a membership initiative election for the BLET in 2010. 

National President Pierce urged all BLET members who receive a notice from TrueBallot to vote. While we anticipate that President Obama will appoint a Presidential Emergency Board near the deadline, we must be prepared for all eventualities, he said. Now is the time for all BLET members to deliver a unified message to the carriers that we will not stand for shifting health care costs to the backs of older and sick workers and families with children, and that our wage increases should better reflect our members contributions to the industrys record profits.

Friday, September 16, 2011
bentley@ble.org

http://www.ble.org/pr/news/newsflash.asp?id=5180

© 1997-2011 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
http://www.ble.org



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Tinhorn Dictator

Uke


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"Bout time somebody said "Strike!" if necessary... And we all know it's way past time ta 'bargain' for better wages, health care 'sharing' and caps thereto... And let's not forget working conditions, especially for the carriers ta finally, and fully 'fix' the fatigue issue that has plagued operating dept. people.

Addressing fatigue amongst T&E, or TY&E has been an issue of too great importance to ignore. And railroads have done just that, maintained the status quo... Ignore it, and it'll go away by itself. This is working conditions...unaddressed!

Maybe...just maybe if all coalition partners stood up ta be counted can we get a 'fair share' this go 'round! If it means jail...we all go!
Not just the organizational leaders, but all railroaders! Volunatarily. In solidarity...we ALL go ta jail!

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Unstable & Irrational

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Shut them down! I can't vote though. Damnit.

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Purveyor of Positive Attitudes

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I can't either. LINTCO bargains on it's own. It's a maverick, a wolfpack of one.

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Unstable & Irrational

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I just received the picket signs today!!! Union meeting tomorrow to plot sedition.

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Upgraded Condition

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Any word on the vote count?

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Upgraded Condition

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Nevermind. I just read the BLET website.

 

http://www.ble-t.org/pr/news/newsflash.asp?id=5188

 

97 percent of BLET members authorize strike

CLEVELAND, October 3 An overwhelming 97 percent majority of BLET members have voted to authorize a strike when a mandatory 30-day cooling off period under the Railway Labor Act comes to an end later this week.

Locomotive engineers would walk off the job at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on October 7, 2011, unless President Obama intervenes and appoints a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB). A PEB would halt any strike or lockout by the parties, and would investigate and issue a report and recommendations concerning the dispute.

As background, the National Mediation Board released the BLET and 10 other Rail Labor unions from mediation with the rail carriers on September 6, creating a 30-day cooling off period, which expires at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on October 7, 2011. At that point self-help is available to the parties, which means the BLET and/or any of the other unions could go on strike.

BLET National President Dennis Pierce said the near unanimous vote in favor of a strike is a clear mandate from BLET members that they are unwilling to accept a concessionary contract and cuts in health care coverage.

It is unfortunate that, in this time of record industry profits, the carriers insist upon attempting to take advantage of a weakened general economy to further line its corporate pockets at the expense of the railroad workers whose labor generates those profits, Pierce said. And it is shameful that the carriers have chosen to specifically target those railroad workers who are most vulnerable older workers and the sick and injured to shoulder a disproportionate share of the demanded givebacks.

President Pierce said the level of voter turnout was higher than any referendum in decades. He thanked the BLET Mobilization Network for helping generate the high level of membership participation. He also thanked the members for their participation and patience throughout the process, especially when high call volume caused phone lines to crash in the early days of the strike authorization vote.

Monday, October 03, 2011
bentley@ble.org



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