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| BNSF - Tentative National Agreement Reached |
A tentative agreement between the BRS and the NCCC was reached on June 16, 2026, and it is now up to you to decide whether it is acceptable. The decision to ratify or reject the agreement is yours alone, and this committee will not unduly influence your vote.
We do, however, strongly encourage each member to vote by the July 3, 2026, deadline.
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| BNSF Rule 46H/48E Travel Adjustments |
As indicated in Rule 46 H, “the daily allowance for employees assigned to mobile crews, while working on their home seniority district, will be adjusted semiannually on June 1st and December 1st.” The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for September 2025 was 947.640 and the April 2026 CPI was 972.
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| BNSF Meal Per Diem Adjustment |
Under the 2023 BNSF Meal Per Diem Agreement, every Assistant Signalman, Signalman, Foreman and MCT may choose, on an annual basis, to receive a daily meal allowance in lieu of actual and necessary expenses for meals. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for April 2026 experienced an increase of approximately 2.6% when compared to the CPI reading for September 2025.
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| BNSF Lodging Per Diem Adjustment |
In January of 2025, another optional benefit was negotiated for those opting into the meal per diem. Participating members may also choose to opt out of CLC in favor of an additional daily lodging stipend, which is also adjusted semi-annually using the same CPI formula as the meal per diem. Accordingly, the daily lodging allowance increased to $79.20 as of June 1, 2026.
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| 2026 YTD Discipline Data |
If you are a frequent reader of this newsletter, then you are familiar with the customary discipline analysis article we publish. The purpose of the biannual article is to identify discipline trends, both positive and negative, and inform all members. This is done with the hope of preventing future occurrences.
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| Compromising Your Agreement |
A positive working relationship with a supervisor is important, but it should never come at the expense of the agreement or fellow union members. While the railroads continue to emphasize doing more with less, employees are entitled to the compensation and protections secured through collective bargaining.
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| CPKC Bargaining Continues |
As reported in our first quarter newsletter, after several nonproductive bargaining sessions with CPKC where they expressed no interest in good faith negotiations, the Union coalition BRS is a part of invoked mediation earlier this year. Our first mediation session was held April 20-22 with NMB Mediator Bjarne Henderson.
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| KCS Travel Allowances |
Rule 59/Addendum 13 Travel Allowance
The daily per diem rate for KCS will increase by 3.272%. The March 2026 Consumer Price Index was 963.607 and the March 2025 Consumer Price Index was 933.077. Therefore, effective July 1, 2026, the daily Travel Allowance rate per Rule 59 (KCS) will adjust as follows:
0 – 300 miles, $31.31 per day will increase to $32.33 per day.
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| MRL Agreement |
It is hard to believe it has been nearly 4.5 years since our last Agreement was finalized on the MRL. Due to our invoking a “me-too” provision to capture a 6th year GWI, our MRL members will receive one final raise under the current agreement. That raise will be 3.5% and will be applied on January 1, 2027.
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BRS Efforts to Obtain Emergency Sick LeaveDue to the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the lack of sick leave afforded our members, the Organization attempted to get out in front of the impending certainty coming our way – infections and/or exposure quarantines of our members.
GCA Letter to Carl Ice Re COVID-19 (3-16-2020) (1).pdf
