Division 13 Members, 
         
          The ever-grateful BNSF is honoring its essential workers who kept the company afloat 
        during this global pandemic by canceling the policy of paying the essential workers four 
        days' pay when off for COVID-19. Effective at midnight on May 17th, they will no longer 
        pay anyone who reports symptoms or is quarantined. Below is the article 
        from BNSF.com 
         
         
        Mike Banks 
        Local Chairman 
        BLET Division 13 
         
         
        After the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, BNSF provided scheduled employees with a 
        COVID-19 four-day sick leave benefit to serve as a bridge to applicable Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) 
        leave benefits. Now, as COVID-19 vaccine is readily available and case counts have declined, the 
        COVID-19 four-day sick leave benefit will be discontinued for leave reported and applied after midnight 
        CST May 17, 2021. 
        BNSF employees who test positive for COVID-19, are presumed to have COVID-19 by a healthcare 
        professional or who've had close contact exposure to someone outside of BNSF with COVID-19 must 
        continue to stay home, alert their supervisor and submit a report using the COVID-19 Reporting Tool.  
        Scheduled employees seeking COVID-19-related leave on or after May 18 and who wish to be 
        compensated for time off may utilize available unused vacation, personal leave days, sick or other paid 
        time off granted in their collective bargaining agreement. RRB sick leave benefits may still apply where 
        applicable. Apart from applicable leave benefits, a scheduled employee will be granted an unpaid leave of 
        absence pursuant to existing BNSF policies and agreements. 
        Questions and Answers:  
        What are my options to be compensated if I must quarantine after being exposed to COVID-19 and 
        don't have vacation time I can use? 
        Scheduled employees may utilize paid sick time (where applicable) or personal leave days, and the RRB 
        sick leave benefits may still apply. The new CARES Act temporarily eliminated RRB's seven-day waiting 
        period before railroad workers can receive sickness benefits—allowing employees to begin collecting the 
        RRB benefits on the fifth day. See RRB.gov for more details. 
        If I take an unplanned leave because I have to quarantine after being exposed, and I don't have 
        enough vacation built up to support that leave, will I be subject to discipline? 
        Attendance is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and if an employee must take COVID-19-related leave 
        after potential exposure or illness, that will certainly be taken in consideration in any review of attendance 
        rule violation. Leniency will continue to be applied to attendance violations related to a confirmed COVID-
        19 exposure or illness. 
        What if I'm not able to make my mandated starts—will I be in danger of losing my medical benefits 
        for the following month if I get sick and have to be in isolation for an extended period of time? 
        Employees must maintain their contractually mandated starts—or a combination of vacation/working 
        starts—each month to extend medical benefits to the following month. 
        Won't this just encourage people who have contracted COVID-19 not to report symptoms and 
        continue to come to work, putting themselves and others at risk? 
        For their safety and the safety of their teammates, we trust that employees will continue to be honest 
        about any potential exposure to COVID-19. As has been the case, BNSF employees who test positive for 
        COVID-19, are presumed to have COVID-19 by a healthcare professional, or who've had close contact 
        exposure to someone outside of BNSF with COVID-19 must continue to stay home, alert their supervisor 
        and submit a report using the COVID-19 Reporting Tool. 
        How is time off handled for a COVID-19 vaccine appointment? 
        As with any type of vaccine, employees are encouraged to try and schedule an appointment outside of 
        work hours. However, we understand that COVID-19 vaccination appointments may be limited in some 
        areas. Under these circumstances, should an appointment conflict with work hours, Transportation 
        employees should layoff using code “MEV" (Medical Vaccine) so they can make their appointment and 
        mark-up immediately afterward, unless experiencing a reaction. All other crafts should coordinate with 
        their supervisors requesting use of the MEV code to accommodate time off to make their appointments. 
        Documentation verifying the appointment will be required to excuse the absence. All employees are 
        expected to use customary procedures for time off, including timely communication with manpower 
        management, where applicable, and their supervisors. Contact your supervisor if you need additional 
        information. 
        BNSF Headquarters 
        2650 Lou Menk Dr 
        Fort Worth, TX 76161-0057