11-4 Agreement
BLET UP GENERAL CHAIRMEN FILE LAWSUIT
Union Pacific notified the six BLET General Chairman at a meeting on Monday, June 10 of their unilateral and non-negotiated change to the working conditions of locomotive engineers covered by the 11/4 agreement. Union Pacific intends to mark-up engineers following the completion of their rest days (OF status) at the top of the board instead of at the bottom of the board. This unilateral change is directly opposite to what was agreed to and understood by all parties and there is no good operational reason for the change.
After years of fighting for a better quality of life, and after you authorized a strike to win a better quality of life, the BLET negotiated the 11/4 Work/Rest Agreement that you overwhelmingly ratified.
Now, after signing the 11/4 Agreement and making specific promises under that Agreement, Union Pacific is trying to get out of it and change it without bargaining.
From our perspective, Union Pacific is doing this solely to make your lives less predictable, and less enjoyable, so that it can extract concessions from us after the fact.
That is bad faith bargaining and that is why we filed a federal lawsuit yesterday evening to hold Union Pacific accountable for the promises they made. Nothing more, nothing less.
Our position remains firm that this development does not relieve the Carrier of its obligation to implement the 11/4 Work/Rest in those areas that do not have it before the July 1, 2024, deadline pursuant to the 11/4 agreement.
A copy of the lawsuit we filed is attached to this letter.
Work-Rest Lawsuit Communication.pdf