BLET News
President Hall exposes dangers of long trains in Washington Post interview
President Hall exposes dangers of long trains in Washington Post interview Long trains have been a major safety issue for several years now, especially since the introduction of so-called Precision Scheduled Railroading by Class I railroads throughout the United...
Schulz reelected Chairman of Wisconsin State Legislative Board
Chuck M. Schulz was reelected to his third term as Chairman of the BLET’s Wisconsin State Legislative Board at the Board’s quadrennial meeting in Madison, Wisc., on May 24, 2023.
Driscoll reelected Conrail General Chairman
The Conrail SSA/CSXT-Northern District GCA is comprised of 13 different BLET Local Divisions on two properties, Conrail Shared Assets and CSXT Northern District, and represents approximately 1,400 active and retired members.
BLET to host virtual Secretary-Treasurer training June 12-13
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, May 25 — The BLET Education and Training Department will conduct a virtual training class for Division and State Legislative Board Secretary-Treasurers via Zoom on June 12 & 13, 2023. Registration for the class is available on a first come,...
Two-person crew becomes law in Minnesota
Minnesota is known for these numbers — 10,000 lakes and two-person crews. In a victory for railroad safety, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed a two-person crew bill into law on May 24.
New STF Investigators complete training at BLET National Division
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, May 24 — Members of the BLET Safety Task Force (STF) met for in-depth training and orientation meetings from May 23-25 at BLET National Division headquarters in Independence, Ohio. Several new members were recently appointed to Investigator...
BLET and Union Pacific reach historic agreement to improve work schedules and time off for locomotive engineers
The tentative agreement provides locomotive engineers with an 11 days on, 4 days off schedule.
BLET and Norfolk Southern reach first deal on engineer paid sick leave
The BLET and Norfolk Southern announced Thursday that they have reached an agreement to provide up to seven paid sick days per year to BLET members. The agreement will provide Norfolk Southern engineers with five new days of paid sick leave per year while also offering them the flexibility to use up to two additional days of existing paid time off as sick leave.
NASLBC 2023 meeting kicks off with speech from President Hall
Members of the BLET’s National Association of State Legislative Board Chairmen (NASLBC) opened their 48th annual meeting here earlier today, welcoming speeches from the BLET National Division Executive Committee and the BLET Auxiliary.
BLET members ratify new contract with South Buffalo Railway
On May 5, members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with the South Buffalo Railway (SBRR).
BLET marks 160th anniversary on May 8
Today, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) marks its 160th anniversary. The BLET and its members are proud of our heritage as the oldest labor union in North America.
Governor Walz talks rail safety at BLET Minnesota legislative board meeting
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz focused on rail safety as the guest of honor at the BLET Minnesota State Legislative Board’s quadrennial meeting in Bloomington, Minn., April 23-26, 2023.
BLET seeks applicants for National Legislative Office position
The deadline for applicants is May 15, 2023.
BNSF-ATSF General Committee of Adjustment holds two training classes
At the request of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (former AT&SF) General Committee of Adjustment (GCA), the BLET National Division assisted with training classes in Fort Worth, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona last week. The training event was organized by BNSF-ATSF...
Ben Wright elected Chairman of Texas State Legislative Board
With nearly 40 delegates in attendance, on Monday, April 17, 2023, Benjamin L. Wright of Division 189 (Saginaw, Texas) was elected as the new Chairman of the BLET’s Texas State Legislative Board (TX SLB) during the Board’s 16th quadrennial meeting in Austin, Texas. In addition, Brother Scott Piekarski of Division 620 (Fort Worth) was reelected by acclamation to his fourth term as Secretary-Treasurer.
BLET Auxiliary Raffle
The National BLET Auxiliary is selling raffle tickets for a chance to win a Solo Stove Bonfire. It is a stainless steel smokeless fire pit built for the backyard and beyond. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased by going to www.bletauxiliary.net. The drawing will be...
National General Chairmen’s Association concludes annual meeting
Paid sick leave and rail safety were among the topics of discussion as members of the BLET’s National General Chairmen’s Association (NGCA) concluded their annual meeting, which was held at the BLET National Division headquarters on April 12.
Ballots mailed in tentative agreement with South Buffalo Railway
Ballots were mailed on April 10 and will be counted on May 5, 2023. The three-year tentative agreement would provide a $1,000.00 signing bonus and general wage increases of 5.5% in 2023, 4.5% in 2024 and 4.0% in 2025.
Ohio governor signs two-person crew bill
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed the state’s $13.5 billion transportation budget into law on Friday, March 31. The bill includes a mandate for two-person train crews and other important rail safety measures in response to Norfolk Southern’s February 3 derailment and toxic chemical spill in East Palestine.
Teamsters Rail Conference holds first meeting of 2023
The Teamsters Rail Conference held its first Policy Committee meeting of 2023 on March 29 with the new leadership of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWED).
Daily Headlines
Unions tell regulators that Class I railroads’ hiring efforts are misleading
The Class I railroads are still far under the employment levels needed to provide exceptional rail service, let alone grow network capacity, an attorney representing seven freight rail unions argued in a Monday filing to the Surface Transportation Board.
BLET’s tentative deal with UP will improve schedules and address quality-of-life concerns
A pilot project in the Kansas City area showed that the 11/4 work-rest schedule helped reduce the number of days engineers took off at the last minute and kept some engineers from walking away from the railroad.
12 labor unions, NS, commit to working together to enhance rail safety
(Source: Norfolk Southern press release, May 23, 2023) ATLNTA — Norfolk Southern Corporation President and CEO Alan H. Shaw and leaders of 12 Norfolk Southern labor unions sent a joint letter Tuesday underscoring their shared goal of partnering together to drive...
Laredo and Houston concerns prompted UP lawsuit over STB’s CP-KCS merger decision
Union Pacific is suing the Surface Transportation Board because the agency’s approval of the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger didn’t fully protect cross-border competition at the Laredo, Texas, gateway or address the potential for congestion in Houston, UP CEO Lance Fritz told a shipper conference today.
Western coal producer seeks STB intervention against BNSF
A proceeding before the Surface Transportation Board is raising questions about how a Class I rail carrier should define adequate service under the common carrier obligation.
NTSB to hold June investigative hearing on East Palestine
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will hold an investigative hearing open to the public in East Palestine, Ohio, on June 22-23.
High-speed rail between LA and Vegas can break ground by end of the year, CEO says
A Miami-based company intends to offer a third option that sounds like something out of Switzerland or Japan: a high-speed train that will cover 218 miles between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area in two hours and 10 minutes.
AAR: Carloads and intermodal down 5.2% in week ending May 20, 2023
For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 470,694 carloads and intermodal units, down 5.2 percent compared with the same week last year.
Englewood residents concerned as NS plans rail yard expansion
Now, as Norfolk Southern works to rebuild trust after East Palestine and build out their location in Englewood near Chicago, some neighbors said they’re furious with the expansion.
House Dems urge reluctant GOP to hold hearing on rail safety
The letter comes more than two months after Ranking Member Larsen first called for a rail safety hearing to be scheduled and shortly after the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee advanced their rail safety legislation out of Committee on a bipartisan vote.
