Hello, Portland Hub Zone 3 Engineers on March 31st, 2025, the general chairman Will Wallace signed our official agreement for the 11-4 for Portland Hub Z3. It states that we will have four 11-4 boards:

1. West Pool RE31/XE30 Pocatello to Nampa established as the RE31 at IY061
2. East Pool RE32/XE30 Pocatello to Green River established as the RE32 at IY061
3. North Pool RE34/XE30 Pocatello to Dillon established as the RE34 at IY061
4. Silver Bow RE30/XE30 Dillion to Silver Bow established as the RE30 at IF328

Then we will have three 6-2 XE30 boards, one at IF185 Idaho Falls one at IX962 Montpelier and one at IY304 Nampa

We will not see the number of employees for each board until April 8th.  We can begin putting in our bids electronically by using a link that the General Chairman has put together on the WRGCA.org website.

I have added a links to submit your bid online and to view the 11-4 and 6-2 Calendars. If this link does not work, go to the “Links” tab on this webpage, and you will see the appropriate links to submit your bid, and to see both of the Calendars for 11-4 pools, and 6-2 XE30 boards.

11-4 Calendar

6-2 Calendar

11-4 Online Bid Sheet

Remember we should get the numbers and groups on April 8, 2025.  Once I receive the information, I will pass it along and you will be able to reach out to CMS to schedule your days for the bidding process and cutover.  The bids are live so the Engineers can start putting in bids based on the calendars. 
The agreement will be posted in the depot at Pocatello, also if you would like a copy of your own, I can email it to you, just let me know and I'll make it happen. This is a 5-page agreement with a good deal of information. I'll be going over it in the upcoming union meeting on April 9th. I hope to see many of you there. I have been told that the 1st 2-3 weeks of the cutover is a complete crap show. I only ask that we try our best to embrace this change and all work together to come to some unity and solidarity for this big new change. As always please don't hesitate to call me or any of the leadership. We are all here to help each other and be united in one another's success.  Thank you.

 Jeff

11-4 Implementation Dispute Resolution Interpretation

I was a part of the zoom call that occurred on the 30th of January, the general Chairman Will Wallace did a question-and-answer session on this new implementation dispute resolution interpretation for the 11-4 work rest agreement. There are 4 parts to it, and you can look it up and read all about it at 11-4.org website it will be at the top under lates updates. To start off Will stated that the information in this interpretation is more solid than the original agreement, and all of it will affect P3. The Carrier and Organization hammered out some growing pains in areas already having the 11-4. Nothing is set in stone for us for implementation at the moment but there are three areas that don't currently have the 11-4 implemented and the plan is the Carrier wants to implement the 11-4 agreement for us during the third week of April sometime between April 13-19. One thing to note with this resolution interpretation we are to pause our time claims pertaining to the Carrier not having it implemented prior to July 2024 however our prior claims are according to the General Chairmen going to still be arbitrated. We are just not to put in any more as of January 27, 2025.  As a Division/Local we will be discussing how this will happen both in our upcoming meeting February 12, and the following meeting in March. Will Wallace and Matt Keen (Vice Local Chair.) will be coming to meet with our Local during the 1st of March, we will probably need to hold a special meeting for his arrival and I'm not 100% sure but we will have this meeting as our monthly meeting just on a different day. There will be updates on this page and in the depot. Will Wallace needs our input on how he will negotiate our implementation of the agreement how we want to deal with the North ends pool turns, and more? These next two months we will need everyone's input on how to move forward with the 11-4 work rest agreement, please come to the meetings and get your voice heard. 

Any questions please don't hesitate to call me 

208-604-0133 I will answer the best I can. Thank you

Jeff

Voluntary Rest Agreement 4-1 5-1

 ALSO LOCATED ON THE LOCAL CHAIRMAN REPORT PAGE.

https://blet228.org/local-chairman-report

Seasonal Self-Care

Union Pacific’s Employee Assistance Program is partnering with nonprofit The Wellbeing Partners to host live one-hour educational webinars for employees and their families. Webinar sessions include Q&A and focus on research-based strategies to enhance and support mental health and wellbeing.

Money and family responsibilities are among the top sources of stress in the United States, and the end of the year is when these stressors tend to be most prevalent. During this webinar, learn self-care tips and ways to navigate feeling overwhelmed during the holiday season.

Visit up.com/eapfamily for additional information, viewing instructions and to watch webinar recordings following the live events.

Paid Sick Days

Effective August 1, 2023 – Three (3) Paid Sick Days (paid at the basic daily rate of last service performed)
Effective January 1, 2024 – Five (5) Paid Sick Days (paid at the basic daily rate of last service performed)
Effective January 1, 2024 – Ability to convert two (2) single day vacations to Paid Sick Days (These days will be paid at the 1/52nd vacation rate of pay)
Can be used at any time on any day of the week. Cannot be denied.
Does NOT count against attendance points.
Does NOT forfeit guarantees.
Applies to ALL engineers (Assigned and Unassigned).
 

Questions and Answers Regarding Paid Sick Leave for Engineers

Q1: Can personal leave (PL) and vacation days (LV) days be converted to paid sick (PS) days?

A1: As of the effective date of the Agreement, Engineers may only convert single LV days to PS days. However, should technology become available in the future that will permit the conversion of PL days to PS days, the Parties will amend the agreement to reflect that option.

Q2: Is PS considered when evaluating Engineer’s compliance with Union Pacific’s Attendance Policy?

A2: Under the current attendance policy, PS absences will not generate points. A PS absence will break the applicable credit period.

  2020 BLET NATIONAL AGREEMENT & PEB 250 WORK RULES PROPOSALS (AGREED UPON INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION OF ARTICLES V, VI, & Vil)

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, February 2 — As a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, one of the best ways to stay in touch with the National Division is through the BLET website.

Regularly published News Flashes keep members informed on breaking news from the National Division. Also, news from the rail industry and organized labor is published on a daily basis.

Members are also encouraged to register for the Members Area of the BLET website to get instant access to their membership data. Members can update their home mailing address, email address, and other contact information. Members will also see their Division number, dates of monthly meetings, and the names of their Division, General Committee of Adjustment, and State Legislative Board officers when logging into the Members Area. To register, please visit: https://members.ble-t.org/ .

Members who receive the Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen News and the Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen Journal can also sign up for the electronic delivery option for both publications.  To opt-out of BLET publications in print, members will need to go to the Members Only area of the BLET website, click on the “Update Personal Information” option, and then select “Publication Delivery Preference.” Those who opt-out will be alerted by email whenever new publications are available in electronic format.