BLET News

BLET Division 139 in Houston, Texas, is collecting donations for the family of Brother Jeffrey Thomas Peacock, 38, who passed away on November 19 after a year-long battle with cancer.

The BLET’s Education & Training Department announced today that its final Secretary-Treasurer workshop of 2006 is completely full. For those who will miss it, however, the dates and locations of three additional ST workshops for early 2007 will be announced in the next 30 days.

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the United Transportation Union are continuing to work together to protect their members in light of ongoing harassment and intimidation of their members at CSX Transportation.

With more than 40 percent of possible voters casting their ballots, the November 7 elections put the Democrats in to power in the U.S. House of Representatives. As of press time, the majority party in the U.S. Senate was nearly a 50-50 split with the deciding race still too close to call. In addition to large gains in the House, the Democrats now hold 28 governorships across the country.

Citizens for Rail Safety, Inc. (CRS), a national non-profit public interest organization comprised of transportation consultants and concerned citizens advocating for national railroad safety and efficiency, will present a Symposium on November 15 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

Bill Verdeyen was re-elected by acclamation to his fourth term as Chairman of the Indiana State Legislative Board at Quadrennial meetings held in Indianapolis, Ind., on October 12-13, 2006.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is urging all of its members to take part in activities related to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25. The date is also the first day of the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.

Major U.S. railroads are using the U.S. Supreme Court in an attempt to weaken the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA), the federal law that promotes a safe workplace for rail workers.

Ken Kertesz has been reelected by acclamation to his second term as Chairman of the Pennsylvania State Legislative Board at the Board’s Quadrennial Meeting on October 20.

When you go to the polls in five days, you will have the opportunity to decide the fate of this country and this country’s children. The November 7 elections are extremely important to the future of all Americans – whether they realize it or not.

BLET-represented workers at the Panhandle Northern Railroad (PNR) unanimously ratified their first union contract on October 27.

The railroad industry has again shown its contempt for its workers, including those who are retired.

The BLET’s Education and Training Department will conduct a Secretary-Treasurer Compliance Workshop in Cleveland from December 3-6.

The BLET’s District of Columbia State Legislative Board will host its Third Annual Locomotive Engineers Exposition tomorrow in the Starlight Room at Union Station, Washington, D.C., from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.

At least five million people have received solicitations that give the impression of offering a credit card from the Texas-based Union Workers Credit Services, which has no official ties to any union or the AFL-CIO and does not offer a credit card.

BLET members working on the Chicago, Fort Wayne and Eastern (CF&E) Railroad recently ratified their first union contract.

In recent weeks, several BLET members have contacted the National Division office with questions regarding the election of International Union officers for the Teamsters.