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BNSF Meal/Lodging Per Diem Enrollment
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Under the 2023 Meal Per Diem Agreement and the 2025 Lodging Per Diem Agreement, annual enrollment for eligible employees is open from November 1 through November 30. All signal crew positions and MCTs are eligible to participate. Employees who take no action during open enrollment will retain their current election. During this period, employees enrolled in the meal per diem may also elect the lodging per diem as an add-on; the lodging option cannot be selected separately. Under the meal agreement, each eligible employee may enroll in the daily per diem benefit or remain subject to the “actual and necessary” provisions of Rule 13. Elections made during November open enrollment remain in effect for the following calendar year, except that employees may opt out of the lodging per diem during the additional May opt-out period. If you do choose to enroll in the meal, or meal + lodging per diem, there are some things you should know. Per diem payments will be added to your paycheck, but will not be taxed. Also, the daily rate will be adjusted on June 1 and December 1 of each year, to account for adjustments in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). As of September 2026, the daily rate for the meal per diem is $65.75, with an additional $79.20 for those enrolled in the lodging component, for a total of $144.95 daily. These rates will be adjusted on December 1, 2026, to reflect the percentage change in the CPI-W index from April to October of 2026. That data is customarily released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics the following month (November). Therefore, we will publish the exact per diem rate for December 2026 through May 2027 when the data becomes available. Since the index is a direct measurement of current inflation, we can expect another increase to go into effect on December 1st. We recognize that the meal per diem may not benefit every member, which is why it was negotiated as an optional benefit. The lodging stipend may appeal to an even smaller group, particularly because members in some urban areas likely fare better under existing expense rules. Members should evaluate their circumstances and choose the option that best meets their needs. This flexibility is a key strength of the agreements because it places the decision with each member. Regardless of the decision you arrive at, just be sure to make your election during the November enrollment period.
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