Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
BNSF–BLET General Committees

Dear Sir and Brother,

Enclosed you will find a proposed agreement involving system-wide transfer of engineer seniority. This project was drafted by all four BLET General Committees on BNSF to try to address the continuing and apparently escalating attempts by employees with engine seniority to transfer throughout the entire BNSF System, specifically from former ATSR districts to former BN districts and visa versa. As most of you know, these types of transfers have been occurring by way of the common points (Consolidate Terminals such as Kansas City and Ft. Worth) under the conditions found in the BN-ATSF merger agreements. We felt it necessary to streamline this process for a number of reasons, but the most evident is the access already in place at the aforementioned locations. Due to the migrating forces account of line sales and the diminishing engineer assignments related to RCL, etc. these transfers have increased and there is no evidence at present that transfer requests will diminish.

As you will see when you receive the documentation, the proposed agreement will only govern transfers from the former ATSF to the former BN and transfers from the former BN to the former ATSF. All other transfer agreements currently in place (BN to BN, SF to SF) remain in effect and the transfers contemplated under those agreements would not be affected by the attached proposal. Again, only those transfers between the two predecessor roads (ATSF and BN) would be governed by the attached proposal.

As for the specifics of the agreement, the process for applying for transfers under the proposed agreement would be identical to current processes on both properties with the appropriate GCA processing the request to the Carrier. The Carrier retains all rights to approve or deny the requests with notification to the appropriate GCA required prior to the transfer being allowed. Once allowed, transferring engineers would go to the bottom of the roster that they transfer to, while their existing engineers seniority would be retained but held “inactive” on the home district. Those in LETP would be promoted and remain senior to transfers arriving on their district while still in LETP. This would be accomplished by treating transferring engineers like “hired engineers” for promotional purposes.

We are confident that you will find that the proposed agreement has been drafted to avoid any adverse affect to existing engineers as well as those in LETP. What it does provide is a mechanism for engineers to transfer across the BN-SF boundary without being required to resign any existing seniority. That in itself is of tremendous value to the membership of all four General Committees. In addition, the agreement creates a level playing field between the two former properties and addresses a need that has arisen on both sides of the current fence.

Therefore, in accordance with Section 41(b) – GENERAL COMMITTEE RULES OF THE BYLAWS of the BROTHERHOOD OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS AND TRAINMEN, it is requested that the enclosed be discussed and acted on at the next regular (or a special) meeting of your Division. Please indicate on the enclosed ballot if you are “FOR” or “AGAINST” the proposal. If you have any questions concerning the proposed agreement, please contact your respective General Committee. Return of your ballot as soon as possible following the meeting would be appreciated, but it must be returned to the appropriate GCA on or before July 26, 2004 to be eligible in the tallying process. We are also enclosing correspondence involving this matter between our Committees and the National Division with regard to ratification instructions. As also advised by the National Division, each Division’s vote will be counted as part of one BNSF block of votes. That being the case, a majority vote of the 102 BNSF-BLET Divisions in the affirmative will be needed for ratification.

Fraternally,

(Signed by D.R. Pierce, A.G. Morrison, P.J. Williams and R.C. Gibbons)
(BLET General Chairman)

cc: Steve Speagle - BLET VP Assigned

Enclosures

List of Agreements

System Transfer Agreement

Letter from General Chairmen to Hahs

Letter from Hahs to General Chairmen

Letter from Gen. Chairman to Local Chairman