BLET News
Utah: New law bans collective bargaining for public sector workers, a threat to the entire labor movement
Union members protesting anti-worker legislation at the state capital in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo: Associated Press ____________________ A regressive collective bargaining ban that strips Utah’s public sector workers of their long-held worker rights was passed by...
Reminder: March 1 is the deadline for children and dependents of Teamster members to apply for a valuable scholarship opportunity
As a reminder, March 1 is the deadline to apply for financial aid from the James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund. Academic scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 are available to high school seniors who are the sons/daughters/financial dependents of Teamster...
In memoriam: BLET mourns the passing of Bob Broka, long-time Director of Records and Honorary Member
Robert D. (“Bob”) Broka, who served the BLET National Division as Director of Records, passed away on February 13. He was 77 years old. Broka began working for the Brotherhood in 1970 and retired in 2010. His 40 years of service spanned the administration of 11...
New Mexico: BLET-backed rail safety legislation would mandate wayside detectors every 10 miles and protect workers who report safety violations
Members of the BLET’s New Mexico State Legislative Board, from left: Gil Tafoya, Div. 791; Steve Seale, Div. 192; Gilbert Montiel, Div. 446; Clem Harris, Div. 15; Charlie Jeffcoat, Div. 811; and Mike Willis, Div. 446. (Not pictured: Alvin Largo, Div. 400)...
Bipartisan rail safety legislation seeks to prevent another East Palestine
The BLET is backing new bipartisan legislation to improve railroad safety recently introduced by members of the 119th Congress. Vice President J.D. Vance also called for common sense rail safety legislation recently and indicated that the administration would support...
Pennsylvania: Train crew helped passengers to safety prior to SEPTA car bursting into flames
Roughly 325 passengers were quickly evacuated just before a SEPTA commuter train went up in flames on February 6 near Crum Lynne Station in Ridley Park, Pa. The six-car train was traveling from Philadelphia, Pa. to Newark, Del. when it caught fire, causing significant...
Maryland: Members have time to request replacement ballots in BLET-Alstom/MARC tentative agreement
BLET members are continuing to vote on a tentative contract with Alstom governing rates of pay, benefits, and work rules for members who operate Maryland Area Rail Commuter (MARC) trains in the Washington-Baltimore area. Ballots are due by Thursday, February 20, at...
Second in a Series: Understanding collective bargaining under the Railway Labor Act — What does it mean when we talk about “status quo?”
To better understand how rail labor and management reach agreements on rates of pay and work rules, the BLET has produced a series of briefs, Understanding collective bargaining under the Railway Labor Act, explaining how the Railway Labor Act (RLA) of 1926 works....
BLET Education & Training Department: LM-3/LM-4 Zoom workshop
The BLET National Division Education & Training Department held virtual Secretary-Treasurer refresher training last week, with over 50 officers participating via the Zoom platform. The four-hour class provided valuable assistance with the preparation of forms LM-3...
Maryland: BLET, Alstom reach tentative deal for MARC locomotive engineers
The BLET has reached a tentative contract with Alstom for locomotive engineers who operate Maryland Area Rail Commuter (MARC) trains in the Washington-Baltimore area. The tentative agreement governs pay, benefits and work rules for 20 members. Ballots were mailed last...
BLET members ratify new contract with Keolis for MBTA engineers
The five-year deal provides BLET members with general wage increases and numerous quality of life improvements. Photo: Sean McPherson ____________________ BLET members ratified a new contract with Keolis Commuter Services for locomotive engineers working at the...
Education and Training Dept. to host officer training at 2025 BLET Regional Meetings
Please make your plans now to attend one or both of the BLET’s Regional Meetings this year. An important part of these events are training workshops for Local Division officers conducted by the BLET Education and Training Department. Training will be offered for...
BLET, NJ Transit meet again this week
BLET representatives met this week for a second time with new NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri in an effort to reach a voluntary resolution to the lengthy contract dispute. This follows an initial meeting on January 30. BLET and NJ Transit are in the midst of a 60-day...
Verna touts the benefits of C3RS at TTD rail safety news conference
In March 2023, leaders of America’s largest railroads promised to voluntarily adopt the Confidential Close Call Reporting System in the weeks after the tragedy in East Palestine. C3RS is a safety program that allows railroad workers to confidentially report near-miss...
Vance visits East Palestine, pledges Trump administration’s support for the Railway Safety Act
Vice President J.D. Vance said the Trump administration supports the Railway Safety Act during his visit to East Palestine on February 3. Photo: Associated Press ____________________ On Monday, February 3, Vice President J.D. Vance traveled to East Palestine, Ohio, to...
Capitol Hill: Rep. Titus of Nevada renews call for rail safety legislation
U.S. Representative Dina Titus delivers her opening remarks during a January 23 hearing. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee image ____________________ U.S. Representative Dina Titus (D-NV), who has a history of supporting rail workers, spoke out in...
2025 BLET Scholarship Directory: Financial aid is available to the dependents of BLET members
BLET members and their dependents seeking academic scholarships are encouraged to explore the 2025 BLET Scholarship Directory, a resource for a variety of financial aid programs. If you or a family member are looking for scholarship opportunities, don’t delay....
Rep. Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania appointed Vice Ranking Member of House Rail Subcommittee
U.S. Representative Chris Deluzio at a 2024 roundtable discussion on rail safety. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee image ____________________ On January 22, it was announced that Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA) will serve as the Vice Ranking Member of the...
Duffy sworn in as new US DOT Secretary; Tells the Senate he will back FRA two-person crew regulation
In a positive development for rail safety, Sean Duffy, the newly-confirmed Secretary of U.S. Department of Transportation, testified that he would support the Federal Railroad Administration’s minimum crew size regulation during a Senate confirmation hearing on...
Teamsters Rail Conference calls on VP Vance to “hold railroad executives’ feet to the fire in pursuit of safer railroads”
Monday, Feb. 3 marks two years since the toxic train wreck and fire caused by the derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight train in East Palestine, Ohio. Shortly after the wreck and a visit by then-candidate Donald Trump to the crash site, then-Senator J.D. Vance...
Daily Headlines
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.
New Jersey members of Congress seek US DOT action on Northeast Corridor problems
Eight members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation have again written Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, asking for federal intervention in the ongoing service issues on the Northeast Corridor.
Union Pacific interfered in federal safety audit
Senator Maria Cantwell said she was opening a probe into Union Pacific’s actions after the Federal Railroad Administration told the committee this month it was forced to discontinue its assessment “due to Union Pacific’s actions to undermine the integrity of the assessment process.”
Norfolk Southern reports Q2 2024 results
Operating income was up 96%, to $1.1 billion, as revenue grew 2%, to $3 billion.
Union Pacific reports Q2 2024 results
Quarterly operating income increased 9%, to $2.4 billion, as revenue grew 1%, to $6 billion. Earnings per share rose 7%, to $2.74. UP’s operating ratio improved 3 points, to 60%.
Vance pick for VP muddies push for rail safety bill
Election-year politics combined with a tight legislative schedule are complicating the effort to pass rail safety legislation stemming from last year’s East Palestine, Ohio, derailment.
NJ Transit strike averted for now
BLET Vice President Jim Louis explains what engineers are seeking in a contract settlement.
