BLET News
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...
RRB Q&A: More information on the Social Security Fairness Act and its impact on Railroad Retirement annuities
The Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA), which was signed into law on January 5, 2025, eliminates the reduction previously applied to the Railroad Retirement annuities or Social Security benefits of individuals who also receive pensions from work not covered by Social...
Teamsters Rail Conference thanks Rep. Titus
Front row, from left: Cole Scandaglia, Teamsters; Vince Verna, BLET; Rep. Dina Titus; Brendan Sullivan, BLET; and Alex Beckman, Rail Conference. Back row, from left: Mark Wallace, BLET; Eddie Hall, BLET, Jeff Joines, BMWED; and Roy Morrison, BMWED. ...
Cleveland: Division 607 members mark two years since the tragic passing of Brother Lou Shuster
From left: Laying a wreath in memory of Brother Shuster is Division 607 member Tim Shultz and Vice Local Chairman Kevin Russell. ____________________ March 7 marked two years since BLET Division 607 President Lou Shuster was killed in a rail yard accident while...
BLET Education & Training Dept.: Secretary-Treasurers complete hybrid LM-2 training
The BLET Education & Training Department hosted a hybrid training class for LM-2 filers last week, with Secretary-Treasurers participating both in person at the BLET National Division Training Center and virtually via Zoom. The workshop was geared toward...
Remote control: BLET meets with Rep. Kennedy regarding safety of remote control trains
New York Congressman Tim Kennedy (left) meets with Teamsters Rail Conference President and BLET First Vice President Mark Wallace ____________________ Teamsters Rail Conference President and BLET First Vice President Mark Wallace, along with Brendan Sullivan of the...
DOGE: Elon Musk’s latest proposal — if adopted — would derail Amtrak
Elon Musk hinted that bankrupting Amtrak could be a good thing even though bankruptcies have been detrimental to rail workers. ____________________ Last week, speaking to a Morgan Stanley investor conference, billionaire Trump advisor Elon Musk said privatizing Amtrak...
BLET, NJ Transit sign tentative agreement after five years of negotiations
Locomotive engineers represented by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), who keep NJ Transit’s trains running for the nation’s third largest commuter railroad, have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. If the contract is ratified by...
BLET Education and Training Dept.: LC training class hotel room block cut-off is March 9; S-Ts can still register for the Zoom portion of this week’s class
The BLET Education & Training Department is hosting classes for Local Chairmen and Secretary-Treasurers in the coming weeks, providing an excellent opportunity for newly elected officers to get up to speed with their required duties. Veteran officers are also...
Rail security: Thieves continue to target freight trains
Thieves targeting freight trains have again made national headlines after more than $2 million worth of new Nike sneakers were stolen from trains in California and Arizona. A common method for these modern day train robberies involves cutting air hoses to force trains...
California: FRA to conduct compliance review of high-speed rail project
According to a recent survey, a majority of Californians support the state's high-speed rail project. Image: California High-Speed Rail Authority ____________________ DOT Secretary Sean Duffy recently ordered the Federal Railroad Administration to conduct a compliance...
BLET to file comments regarding zero-to-zero technology. BLET’s National Legislative Office seeks input from members.
The BLET will submit comments to the Federal Railroad Administration on CSX’s “zero-to-zero” technology that relies on computers to automatically start and stop freight trains. The railroad is seeking FRA approval for a Product Safety Plan (PSP) to begin using...
Organizing: Chalk another one up. Watco workers say yes to BLET.
The BLET notched its first organizing win of 2025 as employees at Watco voted to join the BLET in an election certified by the National Mediation Board on February 26. Watco owns and operates 45 regional short line railroads throughout the United States, and the...
Maryland: Not so fast, CSX. BLET takes action to stop railroad from using managers to pilot engineers.
Renovations to the 125-year-old Howard Tunnel in Baltimore led to train rerouting. CSX used managers as pilots initially until the BLET put a stop to it. Photo: Associated Press ____________________ A historic tunnel constructed in the late 1800s has led to a 2025...
BNSF: New Local Chairmen complete training
Twenty newly-elected Local Chairmen from BNSF General Committees of Adjustment participated in training sessions in February designed to help them become familiar with their duties under the BLET Bylaws. Most of the participants in the training session are taking...
Don’t mess with Texas: BLET member joins annual Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup
Blake Stephens of BLET Division 863 (left) helps Texas State Legislative Board Chairman Ben Wright get up close and personal with a western diamondback rattlesnake at the Texas Capitol. ____________________ Some people equate lobbying activity with snake handling....
Black History Month: Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King who stood up for labor rights as well as civil rights
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is widely known as a civil rights leader, as a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and as a skilled orator. It’s also important to remember that Dr. King’s vision extended beyond racial equality to include organizing for better working and...
Daily Headlines
Canadian government rejects CN request to intervene in labor dispute ahead of potential lockout, strike
Labour Minister Steve MacKinnon has rejected the Canadian National Railway Company’s request to intervene in the ongoing labour dispute between the company and the union representing railway employees.
Hidden report reveals how workers got sick while cleaning up East Palestine derailment site
Workers who reported headaches and nausea — while shooting compressed air into the creek bed, which releases chemicals from the sediment and water — were sent back to their hotels to rest, according to a report obtained by The Associated Press about their illnesses.
CPKC, CN embargoes intensify ahead of potential strike/lockout in Canada
The latest action by CN impacts U.S. originating intermodal railcars destined for Canada, while CPKC will discontinue domestic reefer shipments.
Union Pacific hasn’t yet lived up to deal to give all its engineers predictable schedules
Union Pacific is holding back on its promises to make schedules more predictable for train crews to address the quality of life concerns that nearly caused a nationwide rail strike two years ago, according to the union that represents engineers.
Rail bridge bill enters Senate; Baldwin asks STB to review certain exemptions
S. 4954 — which was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation — would create standards for rail bridge oversight by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).
Amtrak on-time performance woes mirror host railroad freight service, shippers say
Class I railroad freight service, shippers argue, suffers from Wall Street’s insistence on low operating ratios and keeping capital expenses to a minimum in order to fund share buyback programs.
NS adds PSR veterans to management staff
Norfolk Southern Railway yesterday announced it has appointed three industry veterans with precision scheduled railroading (PSR) experience to help lead its transportation team.
ATDA, NS join FRA’s confidential close call reporting system
In January, Norfolk Southern announced the first pilot program under the FRA’s supervision in the industry, in conjunction with the BLET.
CSX reports Q2 2024 results
CSX said Monday that it earned $963 million, or 49 cents per share, in the second quarter. That’s down from last year’s $984 million, or 49 cents per share.
Fiery North Dakota derailment was the latest to involve weak tank cars the NTSB wants replaced
The NTSB highlighted the fact that some of the 17 tank cars carrying hazardous materials that derailed were DOT-111 tank cars that have demonstrated time and again that they are prone to rupturing in a train crash.
