BLET News
Mark Kenny remembered as a great man and Brother who had a remarkable career as BLET General Chairman at Amtrak
Members of Mark Kenny's family in front of Amtrak locomotive #174, which was named in honor of the late BLET General Chairman at a dedication ceremony on March 14. ____________________ BLET National Secretary-Treasurer David Estes paid homage to late BLET General...
A Lifetime of Railroading: BNSF Locomotive Engineer has 67 years of service (so far)
K.C. Hill became locomotive engineer in 1966 and, aside from normal rest days, has laid off only 10 days in his 67-year career. ____________________ BLET member K.C. Hill, a member of Division 391 in Ft. Madison, Iowa, was recently profiled by the BNSF Railway for his...
Labor: Trump administration sued for ending union bargaining for TSA officers
Sara Nelson, President of the AFA, seen here at a 2024 BLET Regional Meeting. She had some harsh words about the attempt to eliminate collective bargaining rights for TSA workers. ____________________ The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) filed a...
BLET Education & Training Dept.: Registration open for Legislative Representative class, May 13-15
The BLET Education and Training Department, in conjunction with the National Legislative Office, will conduct a class for BLET Division Legislative Representatives in Washington, D.C., during the week of May 12, 2025. In addition to the in-person training, this class...
Registration now open for BLET’s Eastern Regional Meeting in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Registration is now open for the BLET’s Eastern Regional Meeting in Daytona Beach, Fla., the week of June 16, 2025. Guests will stay at the Hilton Daytona Beach Resort, 100 North Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach, FL, 32118, telephone (386) 254-8200. Registration and hotel...
BLET reaches tentative quality-of-life agreement for Tex-Mex members
The BLET has reached a tentative agreement that provides voluntary off days for locomotive engineers and trainmen who work at CPKC’s former Texas Mexican Railway (Tex-Mex). If ratified, the agreement would govern nearly 250 members of Division 244 in Laredo, Texas....
Railroad safety: FRA ends the C3RS working group
Safety in the railroad industry took a step backwards recently. On March 13, the FRA deactivated the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) Working Group which was charged with exploring industry-wide implementation of the safety program known as Confidential Close...
Are big changes coming to Amtrak? CEO Stephen Gardner steps down
Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner resigned unexpectedly last week. “I am stepping down as CEO to ensure that Amtrak continues to enjoy the full faith and confidence of this administration,” he said in a March 19 statement. Gardner’s sudden resignation comes less than two...
CSXT: BLET exposes safety flaws with “zero-to-zero” technology that controls braking and urges the FRA to conduct further study
The BLET filed extensive comments with the FRA on March 17 raising questions about CSXT’s use and implementation of Trip Optimizer/Air Brake Control (TO/ABC, or “zero-to-zero”) technology. If fully approved, CSXT’s Product Safety Plan (PSP) would, for the first time,...
Illinois: BLET a part of labor coalition lobbying to help save state’s public transportation system from fiscal cliff
Pictured from left: Jeff Crane, BLET; Alex Beckman, Rail Conference; Tim Drea, President of Illinois AFL-CIO; Cory Martin, BLET Illinois State Legislative Board Chairman; Brandon Stewart, BLET; Todd Knight, BLET; and Chad Clayton, BLETThe BLET’s Illinois State...
Women’s History Month: Watco workforce selects Tandi Colibert to serve as grievance chair
In mid-March the BLET held its initial meeting with workers at Watco following the union’s certification by the National Mediation Board. It was fitting that the meeting was held on Saturday, March 8 — which is International Women’s Day — and that Sister Tandi...
Amtrak names locomotive in honor of late BLET General Chairman Mark B. Kenny
From left: Matt Kronyak, BLET Special Rep; Brad Cleary, Amtrak GCA S-T; Gerhard Williams (back row), Amtrak VP; Gabriel Perez, Amtrak GCA VGC; J.J. O’Neill, Amtrak GCA ERC; Kate Kenny; Stephen Gardner (back row), Amtrak CEO; David Estes, BLET NST; Jim Louis, BLET VP;...
Teamster-backed Lori Chavez-DeRemer confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Labor
Former Oregon Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer was confirmed on March 10 to serve as U.S. Secretary of Labor. She is the daughter of a Teamster and has the strong backing of Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien. “Lori Chavez-DeRemer will do an excellent job...
Education & Training Dept.: Division Secretary-Treasurers complete training
The BLET Education & Training Department conducted a hybrid training class for Division Secretary-Treasurers last week, with 55 members participating both in person at the BLET National Division Training Center and virtually via Zoom. Many participants in the...
The Trump Administration is slashing federal employment and government services — RRB field offices are now in the crosshairs
The BLET National Division has been approached by many concerned members regarding the Trump administration’s ongoing cuts to federal agencies with questions about what effect those reductions in staffing and programs might have on railroad workers. Among the cuts, it...
RRB Q&A: More information on the Social Security Fairness Act and its impact on Railroad Retirement annuities
The Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA), which was signed into law on January 5, 2025, eliminates the reduction previously applied to the Railroad Retirement annuities or Social Security benefits of individuals who also receive pensions from work not covered by Social...
Teamsters Rail Conference thanks Rep. Titus
Front row, from left: Cole Scandaglia, Teamsters; Vince Verna, BLET; Rep. Dina Titus; Brendan Sullivan, BLET; and Alex Beckman, Rail Conference. Back row, from left: Mark Wallace, BLET; Eddie Hall, BLET, Jeff Joines, BMWED; and Roy Morrison, BMWED. ...
Cleveland: Division 607 members mark two years since the tragic passing of Brother Lou Shuster
From left: Laying a wreath in memory of Brother Shuster is Division 607 member Tim Shultz and Vice Local Chairman Kevin Russell. ____________________ March 7 marked two years since BLET Division 607 President Lou Shuster was killed in a rail yard accident while...
BLET Education & Training Dept.: Secretary-Treasurers complete hybrid LM-2 training
The BLET Education & Training Department hosted a hybrid training class for LM-2 filers last week, with Secretary-Treasurers participating both in person at the BLET National Division Training Center and virtually via Zoom. The workshop was geared toward...
Remote control: BLET meets with Rep. Kennedy regarding safety of remote control trains
New York Congressman Tim Kennedy (left) meets with Teamsters Rail Conference President and BLET First Vice President Mark Wallace ____________________ Teamsters Rail Conference President and BLET First Vice President Mark Wallace, along with Brendan Sullivan of the...
Daily Headlines
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.
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.
