Some of you may have noticed your pay being reduced beginning 10/16, well here is what is happening.

With the new BLE agreement came the opportunity for an Optional Alternative Compensation Program. This is the program that allows the BLE to trade general wage increases for profit sharing. In this current agreement the BLE has chosen to trade 2% of the 3% increase for an additional 4% of profit sharing. In July the 3% increase went into effect while waiting for the BLE to vote on the OACP. Now the 3% increase will be reduced to 1% beginning on 10/16. I am told that the carrier will not go back and capture that excess 2% that it was paying from 7/1 thru 10/15.

This is good or bad depending on future profitability and years of service.

thanks

John England

BLET Back Pay Update and Timeline

September 28, 2007

On September 19, 2007 we told you that we had to make adjustments to the original BLET back pay regross. Since that time, we have been working with the BLET general committees, Compensation Systems, and Technology Services to make the necessary corrections.  Since some of the adjustments require significant computer programming and manual processing, the new timeline reflects the time it will take to insure accurate payments.

The Back Pay Regross Timeline

The current plan is to issue the second back pay regross checks on December 17. These checks will include a recalculation of all of the back pay corrections previously identified.

The Timeline for Profit Sharing Adjustments Based on Back Pay

On December 19, engineers will receive a profit sharing check that is based on the back pay received for years 2005 and 2006. The profit sharing payout for these years was 100% of the maximum. Therefore, depending on the plans under which you were covered, you can expect to receive a payout between 8% and 12% of your back pay earnings during for these periods.

The Clarification of 816s

To address confusion about how to decipher the 816s when we did the original regross, we will provide a document that communicates exactly how the regross and profit sharing payments are accounted for on the 816s in our next update

Again we appreciate your patience as we have worked through getting this right.  This timeline really is the earliest that we believe we can develop, test, and then go through the process changes that have to be made to insure accurate payments.