BMWED Members of LS&I Approve New Contract Published: May 2 2023 2:31PM
BMWED members on the Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad servicing Michigan’s Upper Peninsula have ratified a new collectively bargained agreement this week, securing general wage increases inline with Presidential Emergency Board 250 as well as a 4/10 work week rule, service recognition bonuses and other paid time off advances.
The members belong to Burlington System Division Local Lodge 1489. According to Vice General Chairman Tom Steinbrenner, the members were actively and closely engaged in the bargaining round, routinely attended lodge meetings, and reflected their involvement by returning 94 percent of the ratification ballots.
LS&I management prolonged the bargaining round likely to see what the PEB recommended for the Class I freights, which resulted in a lengthy wait, Brother Steinbrenner said. But that did not discourage the members of the small railroad, who remained committed to securing the best CBA possible.
“I am extremely proud of Lodge 1489,” Brother Steinbrenner said. “Not only did they have a 94 percent ballot return, but they stayed informed throughout the bargaining process by attending bargaining updates via Zoom, attending their lodge meetings, keeping in contact with Local Chairman Scott Shepich, and keeping in contact with BSD system officers like George Loveland and National Division Vice President Staci Moody-Gilbert.”
The new LS&I CBA can be found at the link HERE.