The CPKC tentative agreement rejection was confirmed by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

BLET 5-year contract ratification: pay, health, and leave terms

The union said members voted down a proposed labor deal for engineers working in the former Kansas City Southern territory in the U.S.

The BLET, which represents CPKC engineers in the United States, said the proposal failed to win membership ratification.

“The proposed agreement was rejected by the membership with 71% turnout and over 65% voting against ratification,” the union said in a statement. “The strong participation and vote results reflected the concerns many members voiced regarding the proposed hourly wage structure and demonstrated the membership’s desire to have their voices heard throughout the ratification process.”

CPKC tentative agreement rejection and contract scope

CPKC announced the tentative deal on April 24. At the time, the railway said it consolidated 11 existing BLET and SMART-TD contracts across its U.S. network into two long-term hourly agreements.

The proposed agreements were set to run from 2025 through 2034. They covered about 1,700 train and engine service employees in 11 states: Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Louisiana.

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