BLET plans strike authorization vote

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen National President Dennis R. Pierce announced that preparations are under way to poll members to authorize a strike in the event one becomes necessary to attain the organization’s bargaining goals.

“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 industry’srecord profits,” said Pierce.

“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,” noted Pierce. “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.”