BLET News
Our History: Remembering contributions of railroad workers on the 81st anniversary of D-Day
Troops of Company A, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division (the Big Red One) wading onto the Fox Green section of Omaha Beach on the morning of June 6, 1944. Photo: Chief Photographer’s Mate Robert F. Sargent via Wikipedia ____________________ June 6, 2025 marks the...
Eliminating brake and mechanical inspections at the border with Mexico takes work away from U.S. citizens, puts lives at risk
Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) solicited public feedback on possible federal safety regulations that could be repealed or modified to achieve “meaningful burden reduction while continuing to meet statutory obligations and ensure the...
Ohio State Legislative Board: Three honored at 2025 Founders Day dinner
From left: Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan, Aaron Barlage and Tom Galloway were all honored at the Ohio SLB Founders Day dinner. ____________________ The BLET’s Ohio State Legislative Board hosted a Founders Day dinner on May 8 in recognition of the BLET’s 162nd...
Add your voice: Help protect the U.S. southern border and save American rail jobs, BLET jobs
As previously reported, two Class I railroads —Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and Union Pacific (UP) — are advancing plans to take jobs away from American train crews by bringing trains operated by Mexican nationals from Mexico into the United States. Not only...
Kevin Sexton sworn in as National Vice President on June 1
Kevin Sexton, a member of BLET Division 269 in Long Island, N.Y., became the BLET’s newest National Vice President when he was sworn into office on Sunday, June 1. Sexton fills a vacancy on the Advisory Board created by the retirement of Eddie Hall in May. Sexton was...
Examining the BLET’s New Jersey Transit Strike
On May 18, the BLET and NJ Transit reached a tentative agreement to end a three-day strike at the nation’s third-largest commuter railroad, which affected 350,000 riders across the Garden State and into New York City. Balloting is now underway as BLET’s 450 members...
Attention members at NJT, CSX and TASI: Please call the National Division if you haven’t received your ballot by June 3
The BLET has mailed ballots to members at three different railroads — New Jersey Transit, CSX Transportation, and TASI (Caltrain) — for voting on tentative agreements. Members at all three railroads who are eligible and have not received a ratification packet by...
David Fink, nominee to lead FRA, tells Senate he will support two-person crew regulation
David Fink responds to questions during the Senate Commerce Committee's confirmation hearing on May 13. ____________________ David Fink, the Trump administration’s nominee as Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), testified that he would support...
AAR’s de-regulatory effort puts lives at risk as rail industry asks feds to overturn two-person crew rule
Aerial footage showing the aftermath of the Lac-Megantic rail disaster. (Photo: Ministry of Public Security (Quebec) ____________________ Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) solicited public feedback on possible federal safety regulations...
Education and Training: Legislative Reps sharpen their skills in Washington, D.C.
The BLET Education & Training Department wrapped up its Legislative Representative Workshop in mid-May at Teamsters headquarters in Washington, D.C. The workshop for BLET Legislative Representatives (LRs) taught them how to become better lobbyists on behalf of the...
Best steps to the plate as BLET’s new First Vice President
BLET First Vice President Gary Best is a third-generation locomotive engineer. ____________________ Gary Best stands ready to serve the BLET and its members. His term as First Vice President, the union’s second-highest national office, began on May 1, 2025. “The BLET,...
Transit supporters pack the statehouse in Harrisburg in effort to prevent deep cuts at SEPTA
Don Hill, the BLET General Chairman at SEPTA, says the cuts, if allowed to go through, would be an embarrassment to all Pennsylvanians at a time when the nation is celebrating its 250th anniversary with the focus on Philadelphia and major sporting events are being hosted in the city, including the FIFA World Cup.
Cory Runion reelected Chairman of Wyoming SLB
Cory Runion was reelected to his fifth term as Chairman of the Wyoming SLB at triennial meeting in April.
Jeff Thurman reelected General Chairman of BNSF (former SLSF) GCA
Jeff Thurman was reelected by acclamation to his fourth term as General Chairman of the BNSF (former SLSF)/MNA General Committee of Adjustment (GCA) at the GCA’s quadrennial meeting on May 14, 2025.
Strike ends as BLET, NJ Transit reach tentative agreement
This afternoon, May 18, the BLET and NJ Transit reached a tentative agreement, ending a strike that began Friday.
BLET is sounding the alarm — Your help is needed to protect the U.S. southern border and to save American rail jobs
Please visit the Take Action area of the BLET National Division website. Once there, the site will provide guidance on how you and other BLET activists can connect with the appropriate member of Congress including and, with a few clicks, send a message pushing back against these job and safety giveaways.
NJT LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS ON STRIKE
In accordance with the terms of the Railway Labor Act, NJ Transit’s 450 engineers and trainees will be on strike starting Friday, May 16.
Pat Darcy reelected General Chairman of Amtrak GCA
Pat Darcy was reelected to the office of General Chairman at the Amtrak General Committee of Adjustment’s (GCA) quadrennial meeting in San Antonio, Texas, on May 6, 2025.
Brian Farkas reelected General Chairman of CSXT-Northern Lines GCA
General Chairman Brian Farkas was reelected last week during the CSXT-Northern Lines General Committee of Adjustment’s quadrennial meeting at the National Division headquarters in Independence, Ohio.
Take Action: Don’t let railroads give our jobs away to Mexico
Two Class I railroads are moving forward with plans to take jobs away from American train crews by bringing trains from Mexico into the United States using Mexican train crews. BLET members are urged to inform Congress about this risky situation and ask for their help in stopping this job giveaway.
Daily Headlines
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.
NJ Train regulation bill advances in state senate
A New Jersey state senate committee has approved a bill that would require two-person crews for freight trains and set a maximum length of 8,500 feet for “dangerous hazardous trains.”
NTSB: Improper coupling, excessive in-train forces caused March 2023 NS derailment
Contributing to the accident was the misidentification of couplers without alignment control during the NS’ inspection process, according to an NTSB report issued Sept. 22.
CSX’s former Clinchfield largely unrecognizable after historic flood
With roadways out of service and railroad washouts prohibiting inspections and repair, CSX’s Blue Ridge Subdivision and much of its Clinchfield are likely to remain out of the service for the foreseeable future.
Q&A: RRB financial reports
As of September 30, 2023, total railroad retirement system assets, comprising assets managed by the National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust (NRRIT) and the railroad retirement system accounts at the Treasury, equaled $26.5 billion.
UP explains absence from early contract agreements with organized labor
UP has sought to renegotiate the scheduling deal it reached last year with the BLET, under which engineers work 11 days and then have four days off. That prompted the union to sue the railroad this summer because it had yet to implement the scheduling agreement systemwide.
NTSB identifies probable cause of close-clearance death of CSX conductor trainee
“In this accident, a conductor trainee was fatally injured when he rode a shoving movement through a close clearance — a 7-inch gap — between his train and a series of parked locomotives. The conductor, riding a different ladder on the same railcar through the same gap, was not injured,” the NTSB said.
STB urges BNSF and UP to be prepared for West Coast container surge
Specifically, Primus asked the railroads for their plans to provide reliable service, how they will allocate resources to West Coast ports, and how the railroads are sharing information with port officials.
Biden-Harris administration calls on Class I freight railroads to guarantee paid sick leave and get to 100% worker coverage
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and U.S. Department of Labor Acting Secretary Julie Su today sent letters to the CEOs of three Class I freight railroads – CPKC, CN, and CSX – calling on them to guarantee paid sick leave to all of their employees.
