BLET News
BLET meets with new New Jersey Transit CEO
Representatives from the BLET met with New Jersey Transit (NJT) executives, including new CEO Kris Kolluri, on January 30 in an effort to reach a voluntary resolution to the lengthy contract dispute. BLET Vice President Jim Louis, who heads the union’s Passenger Rail...
RRB news: Details on implementation of the REEF Act
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has prepared a helpful list of Questions & Answers regarding the Railroad Employee Equity and Fairness (REEF) Act, which was recently signed into law. Under the new law, benefits paid under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance...
Massachusetts: Chairman Cadogan raises BLET’s issues with Governor Healey
Brother Dan Cadogan (pictured, right), Chairman of the New England Legislative Board, met with Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey on January 13. Representing the views of BLET members in the Bay State, Cadogan addressed quality of life issues for commuter rail...
Attention retirees: New law can increase payments to recipients of public pensions
The Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law on January 5, 2025, will end two statutory reductions for railroad retirees, their spouses, and survivors who are receiving public pensions from work not covered by social security. The repeal of these provisions means...
Career opportunity: BLET seeks applicants for the National Division’s Director of Arbitration
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) is presently seeking applicants for the Director of the Arbitration Department to join our National Division office team. The successful candidate will have the flexibility to work remotely, but will be...
BLET Education & Training Dept. announces 2025 officer training schedule
The BLET Education & Training Department is offering a full slate of training opportunities throughout the coming year. All BLET officers are encouraged to attend, especially first-time officers who were elected during the 2024 Triennial Election cycle. The 2025...
BLET Education & Training Department: More than 100 new Division officers complete training
The BLET Education & Training Department provided valuable training to over 100 new Division officers as it hosted five Zoom classes on January 14 and 15. The classes provided introductory training for new officers who were elected during the 2024 Triennial...
New Jersey Transit: Clock ticking towards March 22 deadline after BLET rejects recommendations of PEB 252
The BLET has rejected a non-binding decision announced last week by Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) No. 252, assigned to the long-running dispute between BLET and New Jersey Transit (NJT). Rejection of the PEB’s recommendation triggers a 60-day cooling off period,...
Autonomous trains: BLET sounds the alarm as railroads move to operate trains without train crews on board and the federal government OKs a pilot project
This month, the Federal Railroad Administration granted a series of waivers to permit the trial run of a “novel, self-propelled, zero-emission, battery-electric rail vehicle” where no workers would be onboard. FRA is allowing a tech company, Parallel Systems, to test...
Organizing Department: After seven organizing victories, BLET looks to continue momentum in 2025
The BLET successfully organized seven short line railroads over the past two years, with more organizing campaigns planned for 2025. The recent string of victories can be linked to a strategic decision made in early 2023 when BLET National Division’s leadership...
Craver reelected to fifth term as Chairman of Virginia State Legislative Board
Brother Tim Craver of BLET Division 532 (Richmond, Va.) was reelected to his fifth term as Chairman of the Virginia State Legislative Board at its quadrennial meeting in late 2024. The Virginia State Legislative Board represents 11 BLET Divisions and nearly 1,100...
Ohio: Governor signs BLET-backed “Stop, Look, and Listen” rail safety bill
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (seated) after signing the “Stop, Look, and Listen” bill, with Rep. Michele Grim and BLET Ohio SLB Chairman John Esterly. ____________________ In mid-January, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed an important rail safety bill into law — the...
Rep. Dina Titus, a voice for Rail Labor, to serve as Ranking Member of House Rail Subcommittee
Rep. Titus addressing BLET members at the 2022 National Convention. ____________________ Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-Nevada) will serve as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials in the 119th Congress. The subcommittee,...
Short line department: BLET hits the ground running at Utah Central
Less than a month after securing an organizing win at the Utah Central Railway, the BLET hit the ground running with its newest members. BLET National Vice President James Logan Jr., who now leads the BLET’s Short Line Department, traveled to Utah to help the nation’s...
Decision by PEB 252 sets the clock ticking for a strike date at NJ Transit
NEWARK, N.J., January 21 — A non-binding decision announced this week by Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) 252, assigned to the dispute between the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and New Jersey Transit (NJT), sets the clock ticking for...
BLET thanks FRA Administrator Bose as he steps down
Amit Bose was honored for his dedication to rail safety at a reception in Washington, D.C., on January 14. Bose is stepping down from his role as head of the Federal Railroad Administration, a position he has held since early 2022. Under his leadership, the FRA...
An “outpouring of love” for SEPTA’s first female locomotive engineer who retires after 40 years
On January 10, BLET Division 71 member Jacqueline Y. Pettyjohn operated her last SEPTA train from Philadelphia International Airport to Suburban Station, in center city Philadelphia. Pettyjohn not only completed the run, she also capped her 40-year career, where she...
BLET reaches tentative agreement with Keolis Commuter Services for MBTA locomotive engineers
The BLET has reached a tentative contract with Keolis Commuter Services for locomotive engineers working at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in Boston. The tentative agreement governs rates of pay, benefits and work rules for 194 members. Ballots...
FRA and OSHA criticize Class I railroads discipline policies that intimidate workers and discourage them from reporting injuries
Class I railroads are failing workers and making railroads less safe due to overly harsh employee discipline policies. That’s according to the December 20 letters from the heads of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Occupational Safety and Health...
Biden signs REEF Act, ending unjust reduction of Railroad Unemployment and Sickness Benefits
Different from other unemployment and sickness benefits, railroad worker benefits are fully funded through payroll deduction and not government taxes. The federal government administers the program, but the government doesn’t fund railroad benefits. Therefore, it is...
Daily Headlines
NJ Transit — almost on brink of a rail strike — asks Biden to intervene
NJ Transit officials asked President Joe Biden to form a Presidential Emergency Board, a move heading off a potential rail strike by locomotive engineers and trainmen that could have crippled the daily commute.
Teamsters endorse Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2024
“The Teamsters Union proudly support the Railroad Safety Enhancement Act, and the essential requirements it includes,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien.
Lawmakers introduce new bipartisan bill to push rail safety after East Palestine
The legislation was introduced by Railroads Subcommittee Chair Troy Nehls, R-Texas, and U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., and includes U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Aspinwall, as a co-sponsor.
Rushed railcar inspections and ‘stagnated’ safety record reinforce concerns after fiery Ohio crash
Major freight railroads are rushing railcar inspections, reinforcing known safety concerns raised by unions for years, but at a House hearing Tuesday they’ll present new evidence from federal inspectors that railcar checks are routinely less than two minutes per car.
NTSB releases final report on Lou Shuster fatality
NTSB determined that the probable cause of the March 7, 2023, Norfolk Southern Railway employee fatality was the crew not following Norfolk Southern Operating Rule 120 requiring a member of the crew to be on the ground at the private highway-railroad grade crossing to warn traffic.
BNSF accuses teenage rail enthusiast of derailing train, filming it
The teenager allegedly filmed the derailment as it happened and later posted it on YouTube.
T&E headcount up from a year ago, but below 2019
Three of the big four U.S. railroads now employ more engineers and conductors than they did a year ago, but headcount is still mostly below pre-pandemic 2019.
BNSF deals with derailments in Kansas, Minnesota
The first was reported at approximately 12:46 a.m. near Ottawa, Kan., while the second was reported at approximately 3:16 a.m. at Big Lake, Minn.
NTSB has pushed for railroad safety for decades. Making the changes can take just as long.
The NTSB, an independent investigative agency, can’t force railroads to put their safety recommendations into place. As a result, unfulfilled safety recommendations can linger for decades, while the same problems contribute to incident after incident.
AAR reports rail traffic for week ending July 13, 2024
Total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 483,806 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.3 percent compared with the same week last year.
