Post date: Dec 9, 2016 9:39:23 PM
-- View Original Document Here --
December 7, 2016
All Local Chairmen
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
And Trainmen
ATSF/BNSF, GWR, PNR
Brothers,
Enclosed is a Tentative Agreement to modify the current System Transfer Agreement at former Santa Fe locations. As you may recall, this change was initiated by Division 398 in San Bernardino with the intent of expanding seniority opportunities for engineers who wish to transfer to other locations outside their existing seniority district.
The agreement will create a new prior right seniority date of January 1, 2017. Any engineer promoted prior to that date (and after September 20, 1995) will establish a new seniority date of Jan, 1, 2017 on the seniority district they are transferring to. Note that those who have seniority that predates Sep. 20, 1995 will continue to be handled in accordance with the existing agreement.
Engineers who are promoted after January 1, 2017 and who are approved for transfer, will establish a seniority date at the new location which is the same as their promotion date. In other words, they will be able to take their promotion date with them.
This agreement will allow engineers promoted in the future to have the same rights as those engineers who promote on the former BN. The divergent handling has proven to be detrimental to our engineers who transfer into “consolidated” locations where BN engineers can bring their date and SF engineers must go to the foot of the board. This will correct that for future generations of engineers.
This agreement will not result in any engineers being placed ahead of other engineers at former SF locations and will have no effect whatsoever on current engineer rosters.
In accordance with BLET Bylaws GCR 41(b), the Local Chairman must poll the active members attending the first regular or special division meeting following receipt of this proposal. The Local Chairman must then cast a vote on the enclosed ballot and return same to the General Chairman. The ballot may be returned electronically or via US Mail. Ballots must be returned no later than January 15, 2017
For the reasons stated above, the GCA recommends you vote IN FAVOR of the proposal.
Fraternally
Chairman