RAILROAD UNIONS SPLIT VOTE

Early Monday, the two remaining rail unions tallied their votes and concluded that they had a split decision. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) had voted to ratify the agreement. While the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART-TD), which is comprised of multiple divisions, voted to reject the proposed tentative agreements.  The BLET and SMART-TD unions represent nearly half the 110,000 workers.

This decision only “kicks the can further down the road” while increasing the likelihood of a strike in December.  The current “cooling off” period runs through December 8th, leaving less than two weeks for a contract to be ratified.   Now that BLET has accepted the agreement, they join the other unions in waiting for the agreements to be settled.

 

If you have any questions, please contact your local Noatum Logistics representative.