Union Pacific locomotive engineers ratify 5-year labor pact

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) members voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new five-year contract with Union Pacific Railroad, the union announced Oct. 3.

The BLET represents 6,000 locomotive engineers at UP. The new contract calls for raises of 18.8% over the life of the agreement. The contract also includes improved health and welfare benefits as well as accelerated vacation accrual policies.

"This agreement delivers much needed pay increases and closes this round of bargaining without any concessions to work rules," said BLET President Mark Wallace in a press release. "It addresses quality-of-life concerns like meal increases while preserving the integrity of the 11/4 work-rest agreement. It also keeps our members' wages ahead of inflation."

Now, nearly 30,000 BLET members have ratified new contracts with railroads since the start of the year, including over 12,600 at UP.