BLET reaches tentative pacts with Tacoma Rail, Utah Central

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) recently reached tentative agreements with two short lines: the Utah Central Railway and Tacoma Rail.

The tentative pact with Utah Central is significant because, if ratified, it would represent a first-ever union agreement at the formerly non-union railroad, BLET officials said in a union newsletter.

Utah Central workers voted to join BLET in December 2023. The tentative agreement would establish many provisions found in other BLET contracts, such as a seniority roster, general wage increases, procedures for grievance handling, paid holidays and vacations, and a discipline process, according to BLET.

A Patriot Rail subsidiary, Utah Central operates 19 miles of track, offers transloading and car storage, and interchanges with BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad. Utah Central membership belongs to BLET Division 16, the union's short-line division.

If ratified by BLET members, the Tacoma Rail tentative agreement would provide general wage increases and address other work rule provisions, BLET officials said. BLET’s Division 238 in Tacoma, Washington, represents members from both BNSF and Tacoma Rail, which primarily operates freight services through the Port of Tacoma. It connects directly with both BNSF and UP.