BLET News
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...
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...
Daily Headlines
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.
BNSF reports Q2 2024 results
The railway on Saturday, Aug. 3, said its operating income increased 1%, to $1.8 billion, as revenue declined 2%, to $5.7 billion.
Senator Bob Casey introduces Rail Bridge Safety and Transparency Act
This legislation seeks to establish standards for DOT rail bridge oversight and empower local communities to report unsafe conditions.
CPKC reports Q2 2024 results
CPKC’s quarterly operating income — adjusted to reflect the April 14, 2023, CP-KCS merger as if it occurred on Jan. 1 — increased 17%, to $1.37 billion, as adjusted revenue grew 8%, to $3.6 billion.
Justice Dept. sues Norfolk Southern over chronic delays for Amtrak
The Justice Department took the rare step of filing a lawsuit because it says Norfolk Southern is consistently violating the federal law that requires Amtrak’s trains to get priority when they cross a freight railroad’s tracks.
