BLET News
Wisconsin: BLET and Teamster-backed judge Susan Crawford wins election
Susan Crawford, center, speaking at an election night event. ____________________ On April 1, pro-union candidate Susan Crawford won a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, securing a 3-2 pro-worker majority. A proven labor advocate, Crawford is committed to protecting...
Two injured in CSXT remote control collision in Baltimore
A remote control incident in July 2024 caused a CSXT locomotive to crash into a residential neighborhood in Niagara Falls, N.Y. ____________________ Baltimore television station WBAL reports that a collision between two CSXT trains at the Curtis Bay Yard in Baltimore...
Follow-up on CSXT’S zero-to-zero plan: Field reports from BLET members document safety flaws with Trip Optimizer
As documented by a BLET member, Trip Optimizer’s handling of a train caused excessive slack action, which resulted in a violent separation that ripped out this drawbar and initiated an emergency brake application. ___________________ As reported in March, the BLET...
In a unanimous vote, BLET-backed grade crossing bill is passed by NM House of Representatives
The New Mexico House of Representatives unanimously passed a rail safety bill in March designed to address the ongoing problem of blocked grade crossings in the state. Members of the BLET’s New Mexico State Legislative Board (NM SLB) spent significant time and effort...
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...
Daily Headlines
TCRC formally appeals binding arbitration order
The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (Teamsters) filed appeals challenging the decisions that led to binding arbitration being imposed on workers at CN and CPKC, effectively stripping them of their right to collectively bargain.
ATDA organizes train dispatchers at Genesee & Wyoming
On September 4, 2024, the NMB announced that Train Dispatchers from the Genesee & Wyoming Railroad have voted to unionize with the ATDA.
Rail worker’s death in Ohio railyard highlights union questions about remote control trains
BLET Vice President Randy Fannon, who heads the union’s Safety Task Force, said he thinks, “This tragic incident in Ohio involving a remotely operated train, blindly controlled from behind, would not have happened if there had been a locomotive engineer in the cab.”
BNSF stresses safety but is still held back by longstanding industry issues, report finds
The FRA also reiterated its recommendation for BNSF and all the major freight railroads to sign on to the confidential federal safety reporting hotline for workers to report concerns without fear of being punished.
Back-to-work order issued at CN, CPKC; TCRC will comply, but lawsuit planned
The Canadian arbitrator appointed to resolve a messy railroad labor dispute to protect the North American economy has ordered employees at the country’s two major railroads back to work so both can resume operating.
Canada forces arbitration in freight train labor dispute; Union cries foul
The union representing 10,000 engineers, conductors and dispatchers responded angrily to the order, accusing the railroads of intentionally creating a crisis to force the government to intervene. It also said it would keep its picket lines in place while reviewing the decision.
CN and CPKC begin lockout in Canada
Despite months of good faith negotiations on the part of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, parties remain far apart, and both CN and CPKC have began their lockout of 00:01 today.
Canada’s Labor Minister to meet with rail companies, union to avoid massive shutdown
Without a last-minute agreement or binding arbitration, the bulk of Canada’s freight rail traffic could grind to a halt this week.
TCRC receives lockout notice from CN
Work stoppage still set for 00:01 on Thursday, August 22, unless parties reach last-minute agreement.
Participants line up to bend STB’s ear at rail growth hearing
Regulators will hear from railroad execs, shippers, suppliers, trade groups, rail labor, and analysts at next month’s hearing on the long-term decline in carload volume
