Voting for Rail Labor Agreements Conclude: Majority Ratify

Dear BNSF Customers,

Rail labor unions concluded voting on the proposed tentative agreements, implemented from the recommendations of the Presidential Emergency Board (PEB). The two remaining unions, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers – Transportation Division (SMART-TD), announced their vote today. The BLET, which represents engineers and trainmen, successfully ratified its agreement, while the SMART-TD failed to do so.

SMART-TD membership holds two separate contracts; voting was split. With approximately two-thirds of the membership participating, the first agreement, which covers about 28,000 employees and represents the conductor, brakemen, engine service, and yardmen groups, was not ratified by a margin of less than 1%. The second SMART-TD agreement, which covers approximately 1,300 yardmasters, was successfully ratified.

Eight of the 12 labor unions, plus a portion of SMART-TD's membership, have successfully ratified agreements and are now in effect. The four unions without agreements in place, SMART-TD, BMWED, BRS, and IBB, are subject to an agreed-upon cooling-off period until early December and BNSF remains committed to seeking an agreement based on the framework recommended by PEB to avoid interruption to rail service.

We will continue to update you as the situation evolves. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact your marketing representative.

Sincerely,

Steve Bobb
Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer