BLET News

The BLET’s National Legislative Office is urging BLET members to contact their Senators immediately and ask them to oppose an anti-labor Amtrak funding provision introduced by Senator Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-MO).

A significant piece of the Brotherhood’s history was recently returned to the labor movement when the original handwritten Constitution and By-laws of the Brotherhood of the Footboard was donated to the George Meany Memorial Archives/National Labor College by relatives of a former BLE employee.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has slammed the credibility of BNSF Railway’s positive train control pilot projects, citing inconsistencies in BNSF’s safety plan. The agency also complained that descriptive language explaining the railroad’s compliance with FRA safety requirements was written in broad generalities that disguise numerous defects.

The Teamsters Rail Conference is reaching out to hazardous materials First Responders in an effort to boost rail security as part of its “High Alert: Safe Rails/Secure America” campaign.

The Rail Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters held its inaugural convention in Las Vegas on June 23 following the completion of BMWED and BLET national conventions earlier that week.

Today, the Teamsters Rail Conference learned that the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC), representing the nation’s Class 1 railroads, has presented a dangerous contract proposal to the United Transportation Union (UTU) designed to coerce UTU into acquiescing to the carriers’ desire to reduce locomotive crew size from two workers to one.

BLET Executive Staff member Chuck Anderson was invited to give the invocation today at the 27th International Teamsters Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The initiative put forth by BLET Division 316 to provide for membership election of National Division officers has been approved by a majority of active members who cast a ballot. It now must be approved by International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa.

Scott Palmer, the BLET’s Oregon State Legislative Board Chairman, alerted the delegates about the serious threat of transporting spent nuclear fuel by rail and the possible threat of radiation poisoning.

The BLET’s First Quadrennial Convention concluded today with more key speakers who addressed issues relating to railroad security.

Delegates attending the BLET’s First Quadrennial Convention here adopted a resolution that provides a vehicle to eliminate seniority maintenance and retention fees where they exist.

Delegates attending the BLET’s First Quadrennial Convention today reelected Don Hahs as National President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.

The funeral Mass for Brother Eddie Sanchez, the BLET delegate who died in a tragic automobile accident on his way to the First Quadrennial Convention, will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 23, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Winslow, Ariz.

The need to improve railroad security was once again a key topic here for delegates attending the BLET’s First Quadrennial Convention.

A rousing speech by Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa was among the highlights here today during the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen’s First Quadrennial Convention.

Five BLET National Division officers were reelected by acclamation here this afternoon at the BLET’s First Quadrennial Convention.

Brother Eddie Sanchez, a member of BLET Division 134 (Winslow, Ariz.), was killed in a tragic automobile accident over the weekend while driving to represent his members as a delegate to the BLET’s First Quadrennial Convention.

The National Transportation Safety Board has issued a report implicating the use of remote control locomotives in a fatal switching accident that occurred in San Antonio, Texas, on Dec. 7, 2003.

Congress should hold the rail industry’s “feet to the fire” to make sure front line railroad workers receive adequate security training.

Pacific Harbor Line, Inc., a BLET-represented property headquartered in Wilmington, Calif., is in need of experienced locomotive engineers with conductor experience to work in the Los Angeles/Long Beach, Calif., area.