BLET News
First VP Ed Rodzwicz testifies about fatigue at Congressional hearing
Today, the president of the Teamsters Rail Conference testified at hearing of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials that rail employees are suffering from fatigue due to staffing levels and over-scheduling and that unsignaled areas of track are a danger that can be easily remedied.
State Legislative Board Chairmen meet with Members of Congress on Capitol Hill
Twenty-one BLET State Legislative Board Chairmen descended on Capitol Hill the week of January 22 in a major effort to educate their Senators and Representatives about railroad security, Amtrak funding, and many other issues of importance to the BLET and the Teamsters Rail Conference.
2007 LC Workshop is full; Waiting list set for a future class
Due to overwhelming demand, the BLET Education & Training Department announced that a waiting list has been created for a second Local Chairman workshop in 2007.
BLET to conduct 2007 Local Chairman Workshop in March
The BLET Education & Training Department will conduct a Local Chairman Workshop on the campus of the University of Illinois-Champaign, starting on Sunday, March 18 and ending the evening of Thursday, March 22.
BLET provides ‘Railroading 101’ training to new NMB arbitrators
The BLE&T Arbitration Department, in conjunction with the National Railway Labor Conference (NRLC), and with the cooperation of Union Pacific Railroad, sponsored three railroad-orientation classes for new arbitrators in December of 2006.
Kansas City S-T workshop is full; Space remains for Denver class
The BLET Education & Training Department’s Secretary-Treasurer Compliance Workshop in Kansas City is now full, making Denver the only remaining class with available space.
Buddy White reelected by acclamation in Georgia
Buddy White was reelected by acclamation to the office of Chairman of the Georgia State Legislative Board at the Board’s quadrennial meetings in Atlanta on January 22.
BLET Auxiliary secures passage of Page County, Va., remote control safety resolution
Thanks to lobbying by the BLET Auxiliary, Page County, Va., became the 63rd community in the United States to adopt a remote control safety resolution on January 16.
New braking technology would boost rail safety
When new technology is introduced in the railroad industry, there’s always a game of “give and take” played between management and labor. But in a recent public safety hearing before the Federal Railroad Administration regarding the implementation of a new braking technology, it’s clear that railroads are willing to give a little — but only if they can take away a lot.
FRA recommends railroads act to strengthen yard safety
Following a preliminary investigation into the December 14, 2006 death of a CSX carman in DeWitt Yard outside of Syracuse, N.Y., who was killed when his truck was struck by a remote controlled shoving yard movement, the Federal Railroad Administration has issued a series of recommendations to the railroad industry intended to prevent another such tragedy.
””Whopping”” 91 percent majority approves new GTW contract
By a landslide 91 percent majority, BLET members represented by the Grand Trunk Western General Committee of Adjustment approved a new five year contract with CN on January 15.
Locomotive theft ignites rail security push in Ohio
Ohio’s House of Representatives will consider a railroad security bill in light of a locomotive theft in southeastern Ohio on January 16.
2007 BLET Scholarship Directory
Many scholarship and financial aid opportunities are available to the children of BLET members. What follows is a list of resources for the upcoming and 2009 academic years.
President Bush signs H.R. 5483
President George W. Bush signed H.R. 5483, the Railroad Retirement Disability Earnings Act, into law on Friday, January 12.
Members establish new Regional and Shortline General Committee
Leaders of several short line railroads created their own BLET General Committee of Adjustment in historic meetings held in Cleveland on January 10 and 11.
Chicago S-T Workshop is full; Room still available in Kansas City, Denver
The BLET Education & Training Department has stopped accepting reservations for its Secretary-Treasurer workshop in Chicago because it is full, BLET National Secretary-Treasurer Bill Walpert reported today.
BLET launches web-based Tax Compliance program
The BLET National Division today launched its new online Tax Compliance reporting system, another Internet-based innovation aimed at making the jobs of Secretary-Treasurers a little bit easier.
Certification of 2006 IBT officer election
By request of the Office of the Election Supervisor, certification of the results of the 2006 IBT International officer election is posted here on the BLET website.
Rail security legislation introduced in the Senate
On January 4, U.S. Senators Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Ted Stevens (R-AK) and Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), along with 11 other cosponsors introduced S.184, the Surface Transportation and Rail Security Act of 2007 (STARS Act).
2007 Time Books mailed
The last of the 2007 BLET Time Books were mailed individually to all active members in December.
Daily Headlines
Railroad Retirement annuities and pensions from work not covered by Railroad Retirement or Social Security
Employee annuities paid under the Railroad Retirement Act are subject to dual benefit reductions when social security benefits are also payable. Railroad retirement annuities may also be reduced when certain public, non-profit, or foreign pension payments are due a retired employee.
BNSF says its operational performance exhibits “strong resiliency”
BNSF Railway (BNSF) announced Oct. 28 that its operational performance “continues to exhibit strong resiliency despite confronting multiple service challenges over the past few weeks.”
FRA releases safety advisory for portable derails
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued Safety Advisory 2022-01 for railroads and railroad contractors on the importance of ensuring that portable derails are clearly visible to train crews and operators of other on-track equipment (particularly at night and in other low-light conditions) and of having processes in place to make sure that portable derails are removed when not necessary for on-track safety.
KCS breaks ground on second span of new International Bridge in Laredo, Texas, and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas
This new bridge will be constructed alongside the existing bridge and is estimated for completion by year-end 2024.
FRA launches passenger long-distance study site
The Federal Railroad Administration has launched a website for comments leading to an evaluation of long-distance service Amtrak had previously discontinued, as well as its two current triweekly routes, the New Orleans-Los Angeles Sunset Limited and the New York-Washington-Cincinnati-Indianapolis-Chicago Cardinal.
FRA sets Dec. 14 hearing on two-person train crew rule
The Federal Railroad Administration yesterday announced it will hold a hearing Dec. 14 to accept public comments on its proposed rulemaking that would establish minimum safety requirements for the size of train crews.
Fate of Amtrak Gulf Coast service headed for possible conclusion in December
The STB set a Dec. 7 date for a voting conference into what could determine the fate of Amtrak operating a twice-daily service along freight rail lines owned and operated by CSX and Norfolk Southern.
Concerned about service, STB orders big four U.S. railroads to continue to provide detailed performance data
Citing ongoing service problems at the big four U.S. Class I railroads, federal regulators today ordered BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific to continue reporting expanded performance metrics for an additional six months.
U.S. to spend $703 million on improving ports
The U.S. Transportation Department announced on Friday it is awarding $703 million for 41 port infrastructure projects in 22 states and American Samoa, according to documents seen by Reuters.
KCS to break ground today on international bridge project
Kansas City Southern will break ground Monday, south of Zaragoza Street on the east side of the tracks, on a second span of the new international bridge.
