South Buffalo Railway tentative agreement goes to vote

BLET members working for the railroad are voting on the South Buffalo Railway tentative agreement after ratification ballots were mailed to eligible members last week.

South Buffalo Railway tentative agreement terms

If ratified, the ⁠proposed contract would provide significant economic and quality-of-life improvements for locomotive engineers. Its terms cover pay rates, benefits, working conditions, seniority rights, and employee protections.

SBRR members belong to Division 16, BLET’s short line division. The negotiating team comprised National Vice President James Logan Jr. and Division 16 Grievance Chairman T.L. Flickinger.

South Buffalo Railway operates over 50 miles of track along the southeastern shore of Lake Erie. Genesee & Wyoming (G&W) owns SBRR, which is currently operated by G&W regional affiliate Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad.

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Ballot dates and replacement procedure

Voting packets were mailed on June 29, and the ballots will be counted on July 21. Eligible members who have not received a ratification packet by July 13 should call the National Division’s dedicated voicemail line at (216) 241-2630, extension 222.

Members requesting a replacement ballot must provide:

• their name, address, and telephone number;
• their BLET division;
• the railroad where they work;
• their date of birth;
• the final four digits of their Social Security number;
• their email address.

Replacement ballots will be sent by email. Members must include an email address in their voicemail request or they will be unable to participate in the ratification vote.