BLET News
Cleveland: Doug Davidson retires after 50+ years; Dan Lucansky new Director of Arbitration for the BLET National Division
A Rail Labor institution on the National Railroad Adjustment Board retired effective Monday, March 31. BLET Director of Arbitration Doug Davidson, who also serves as the NRAB's Vice Chairman, is pulling the pin after a railroad career that spanned 51 years. His...
Philadelphia: BLET member and SEPTA locomotive engineer found murdered; GoFundMe created to assist his three children
In a shocking development for the close-knit members of BLET Division 71 who operate regional rail trains for SEPTA, locomotive engineer Jordan Baxter was found dead in his driveway on March 19. Jordan Baxter had been a member of Division 71 in Philadelphia for 10...
NJ Transit: Members can request replacement ballots beginning April 1
BLET members are currently voting on the union’s tentative agreement with New Jersey Transit. Ballots were mailed earlier this month and are due by Tuesday, April 15. Members who are eligible and have not received a ratification packet can request one beginning...
Wisconsin: BLET and Teamsters rally to support Judge Susan Crawford
From left: BLET Division 174 member Eric Stroik with a fellow Wisconsin Teamster at the rally in Oshkosh. ___________________ The race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court is one of the most important in the country, and the BLET and Teamsters are pulling out all the...
Ohio: Punk rock band releases protest song “Precision Scheduled Disasters”
In late-March Dayton, Ohio-based progressive punk band called Abertooth Lincoln released a protest song about the East Palestine disaster. The “blistering punk anthem” calls out Norfolk Southern, corporate greed, and Precision Scheduled Railroading — the industry’s...
Mark Kenny remembered as a great man and Brother who had a remarkable career as BLET General Chairman at Amtrak
Members of Mark Kenny's family in front of Amtrak locomotive #174, which was named in honor of the late BLET General Chairman at a dedication ceremony on March 14. ____________________ BLET National Secretary-Treasurer David Estes paid homage to late BLET General...
A Lifetime of Railroading: BNSF Locomotive Engineer has 67 years of service (so far)
K.C. Hill became locomotive engineer in 1966 and, aside from normal rest days, has laid off only 10 days in his 67-year career. ____________________ BLET member K.C. Hill, a member of Division 391 in Ft. Madison, Iowa, was recently profiled by the BNSF Railway for his...
Labor: Trump administration sued for ending union bargaining for TSA officers
Sara Nelson, President of the AFA, seen here at a 2024 BLET Regional Meeting. She had some harsh words about the attempt to eliminate collective bargaining rights for TSA workers. ____________________ The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) filed a...
BLET Education & Training Dept.: Registration open for Legislative Representative class, May 13-15
The BLET Education and Training Department, in conjunction with the National Legislative Office, will conduct a class for BLET Division Legislative Representatives in Washington, D.C., during the week of May 12, 2025. In addition to the in-person training, this class...
Registration now open for BLET’s Eastern Regional Meeting in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Registration is now open for the BLET’s Eastern Regional Meeting in Daytona Beach, Fla., the week of June 16, 2025. Guests will stay at the Hilton Daytona Beach Resort, 100 North Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach, FL, 32118, telephone (386) 254-8200. Registration and hotel...
BLET reaches tentative quality-of-life agreement for Tex-Mex members
The BLET has reached a tentative agreement that provides voluntary off days for locomotive engineers and trainmen who work at CPKC’s former Texas Mexican Railway (Tex-Mex). If ratified, the agreement would govern nearly 250 members of Division 244 in Laredo, Texas....
Railroad safety: FRA ends the C3RS working group
Safety in the railroad industry took a step backwards recently. On March 13, the FRA deactivated the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) Working Group which was charged with exploring industry-wide implementation of the safety program known as Confidential Close...
Are big changes coming to Amtrak? CEO Stephen Gardner steps down
Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner resigned unexpectedly last week. “I am stepping down as CEO to ensure that Amtrak continues to enjoy the full faith and confidence of this administration,” he said in a March 19 statement. Gardner’s sudden resignation comes less than two...
CSXT: BLET exposes safety flaws with “zero-to-zero” technology that controls braking and urges the FRA to conduct further study
The BLET filed extensive comments with the FRA on March 17 raising questions about CSXT’s use and implementation of Trip Optimizer/Air Brake Control (TO/ABC, or “zero-to-zero”) technology. If fully approved, CSXT’s Product Safety Plan (PSP) would, for the first time,...
Illinois: BLET a part of labor coalition lobbying to help save state’s public transportation system from fiscal cliff
Pictured from left: Jeff Crane, BLET; Alex Beckman, Rail Conference; Tim Drea, President of Illinois AFL-CIO; Cory Martin, BLET Illinois State Legislative Board Chairman; Brandon Stewart, BLET; Todd Knight, BLET; and Chad Clayton, BLETThe BLET’s Illinois State...
Women’s History Month: Watco workforce selects Tandi Colibert to serve as grievance chair
In mid-March the BLET held its initial meeting with workers at Watco following the union’s certification by the National Mediation Board. It was fitting that the meeting was held on Saturday, March 8 — which is International Women’s Day — and that Sister Tandi...
Amtrak names locomotive in honor of late BLET General Chairman Mark B. Kenny
From left: Matt Kronyak, BLET Special Rep; Brad Cleary, Amtrak GCA S-T; Gerhard Williams (back row), Amtrak VP; Gabriel Perez, Amtrak GCA VGC; J.J. O’Neill, Amtrak GCA ERC; Kate Kenny; Stephen Gardner (back row), Amtrak CEO; David Estes, BLET NST; Jim Louis, BLET VP;...
Teamster-backed Lori Chavez-DeRemer confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Labor
Former Oregon Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer was confirmed on March 10 to serve as U.S. Secretary of Labor. She is the daughter of a Teamster and has the strong backing of Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien. “Lori Chavez-DeRemer will do an excellent job...
Education & Training Dept.: Division Secretary-Treasurers complete training
The BLET Education & Training Department conducted a hybrid training class for Division Secretary-Treasurers last week, with 55 members participating both in person at the BLET National Division Training Center and virtually via Zoom. Many participants in the...
The Trump Administration is slashing federal employment and government services — RRB field offices are now in the crosshairs
The BLET National Division has been approached by many concerned members regarding the Trump administration’s ongoing cuts to federal agencies with questions about what effect those reductions in staffing and programs might have on railroad workers. Among the cuts, it...
Daily Headlines
BNSF reports Q3 2024 results
BNSF Railway’s profits, revenue, and volume all increased for the third quarter, thanks to surging intermodal and agricultural shipments.
FRA proposes automated track inspection regulations
The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes applauded the proposed ATI rule.
FRA aims to tighten rules for waivers that allow railroads to experiment with safety technology
The proposal also seeks to preserve union jobs: It says the FRA will take a dim view of safety waiver requests that seek to reduce employment levels or the number of inspections performed by track and car inspectors.
FRA awards $2.4 billion in grants to 122 projects
This announcement is part of a series of investments the Biden-Harris Administration has made in nearly 300 rail projects and dozens of emerging passenger rail corridors across the country through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-funded FRA grant programs.
CN reports Q3 2024 results
CN today reported its financial and operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024, including operating income of $1.515 million.
CPKC reports Q3 2024 results
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) today announced its third-quarter results, including revenues of $3.5 billion.
Union Pacific reports Q3 2024 results
Union Pacific Corporation today reported 2024 third quarter net income of $1.7 billion, or $2.75 per diluted share. This compares to 2023 third quarter net income of $1.5 billion, or $2.51 per diluted share.
Norfolk Southern reports Q3 2024 results
For the quarter, income from railway operations was $1.6 billion and the operating ratio was 47.7%.
CPKC, CSX receive STB approval to create Mexico-U.S. rail link
The two railroads received approval from the Surface Transportation Board for their acquisition of rail lines operated by Genesee & Wyoming’s Meridian & Bigbee Railroad, also known as MNBR, resulting in the new direct interchange connection in Alabama.
CSX reports Q3 2024 results
Net earnings were $894 million compared to $828 million in the same period last year.
