Coordinated Bargaining Coalition Update:

June 24, 2022 — This week, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) is mailing ballots to more than 23,000 members seeking authorization for the Union’s leadership to call a strike should one become necessary to settle the current national contract dispute with the nation’s largest rail carriers. This is a mandatory step required by the Brotherhood’s internal law as the Union approaches the point where self-help becomes a legal option to both labor and management.

Ballots will be mailed today (Friday, June 24) and BLET members will have until 10:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, July 12, to cast their votes.

Members who are eligible to vote and have not received a ballot by Thursday, July 7, should request a replacement ballot by calling the BLET National Division at (216) 241-2630, ext. 222. When connected with the extension, please leave the following information:

• your name, mailing address, and phone number;
• your date of birth;
• the last four digits of your Social Security number; and
• your email address.

The BLET has retained the election services firm TrueBallot, Inc. to conduct the strike authorization vote. In order to cast your vote, please read and carefully follow the instructions on the document titled “Strike Authorization Vote” that you will receive through the mail.

“Let me emphasize that authorization does not mean a strike will occur, nor does it mean that all railroads may be struck,” BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce said. “Now is the time to deliver a unified message to the carriers that their contract proposals are unacceptable to BLET’s membership and that we stand united.”