BLET News
In the Line of Duty: Division 604 member Jerry D. Arterberry, 1969-2024
Brother Jerry D. Arterberry, a BNSF conductor and member of BLET Division 604, suffered a medical emergency and passed away while working at BNSF’s yard in Madill, Oklahoma, on September 7. He was 54 years old.
Americans’ approval of labor unions near highest level since 1960s
A Gallup survey release just prior to Labor Day 2024 shows that a strong majority of Americans continue to view labor unions in a positive light.
Sausville reelected Chairman of Florida State Legislative Board
Brother Shawn Sausville was reelected to his second term as Chairman of the BLET’s Florida State Legislative Board during its quadrennial meeting on August 28, 2024. Brother Sausville is a CSX locomotive engineer who also serves as Legislative Representative of Division 309 (Jacksonville, Fla.).
BLET continues to lead the way in publicly exposing the dangers of remote control train operations
In an August 28 national news story, the Associated Press reported on a simple solution to improving the safety of remote control train operations: two-person train crews.
Registration open for upcoming rail hazmat training classes
The Rail Workers Hazardous Materials Training Program is hosting four in-person rail worker training sessions in late 2024 and early 2025. The dates are as follows: October 13-18, 2024; January 12-17, 2025; February 16-21, 2025; and March 16-21, 2025.
FRA safety culture survey shows need for C3RS as BNSF continues to retaliate against workers for reporting safety concerns
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released the results of its safety culture survey at the BNSF Railway on August 28. The FRA found that company leaders routinely say that safety is a core value, but lower-level managers still prioritize keeping the trains...
Labor Day 2024: BLET members show their pride
Toledo photo: BLET members and guests in the Northwest Ohio area gathered to participate in the Toldeo Labor Day parade. Union pride was on full display at parades, picnics, and related events on Labor Day. Major parades took place in large cities such as Milwaukee,...
California: BLET secures C3RS safety program for new COASTER members
The BLET wasted no time in making working conditions safer for new members at COASTER by securing participation in C3RS. NCTD image _____________________ The BLET has hit the ground running at COASTER and is already making the workplace safer for its newest members....
NJ Transit: PEB 251 issues report and recommendations
On August 23, Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) 251 issued its recommendations to President Biden to settle the contract dispute between BLET and New Jersey Transit. Under the Railway Labor Act, if there is no settlement between the parties based on a PEB’s...
FRA backs BLET, denies carriers’ backdoor effort to waive PTC safety regulations
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) sided with the BLET on August 26 when it denied a joint waiver request by five railroads seeking to change operating rules in the event of unplanned Positive Train Control (PTC) outages. The BLET filed formal written comments...
BLET SLB Chairmen: Two days left to submit candidate recommendations via email
BLET State Legislative Board Chairmen are continuing to review candidates for public office who are worthy of our support in the upcoming national election on November 5. Their list of candidates for federal office will be published in an upcoming issue of the...
Melone elected new Chairman of Montana State Legislative Board
Brother Kristian (Kris) Melone, a BNSF locomotive engineer and member of BLET Division 504 (Great Falls, Mont.), was elected to his first term as Chairman at the Montana State Legislative Board’s quadrennial meeting on August 14-15, 2024. He has served as the State...
Washington: STB to hold hearing on growth in the freight rail industry — BLET’s Wallace to testify
Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Robert Primus has called a public hearing on September 16 and 17 to gather information about how the freight rail industry has grown and intends to grow in the future. STB is the federal agency charged with economic...
BLET exposes carriers’ backdoor effort to change PTC safety regulations
The BLET has called out five railroads for a backdoor attempt to make changes to Positive Train Control operating rules without going through proper regulatory channels. Each railroad has in place FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plans (PTCSP), which dictate...
TCRC defiant as government mandates binding arbitration to end CN, CPKC lockouts
Sean O’Brien, General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and François Laporte, President of Teamsters Canada, were on the picket line at CPKC’s headquarters in Calgary on August 23. ____________________ The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC)...
AFL-CIO Executive Paywatch exposes exorbitant CEO pay in railroad industry
The AFL-CIO released its annual Executive Paywatch report which tracks how worker wages have fallen while CEO pay continues to soar. Here are some highlights from the railroad industry: CEO to worker pay ratios CSX — 116:1 (it previously was a 186:1 ratio) Union...
Illinois: Division 644 recognizes three Brothers upon retirement
From left: Rob Weimer, BNSF Galesburg Assistant Superintendent; Brandon Sauvageau BNSF LaCrosse Superintendent; Will Wayzny BNSF Superintendent Of Safety; Division 644 Locomotive Engineer James VonKannon; Division 644 Locomotive Engineer Troy Ericson; Division 644...
Lambert reelected to second term as UP-Eastern District General Chairman
Officers, members, and guests at the UP-Eastern District GCA's quadrennial meeting in Omaha, Neb., on August 14, 2024. _____________________ Chad Lambert was reelected to his second term as General Chairman during the Union Pacific-Eastern District General Committee...
BLET SLB Chairmen: Candidate recommendations due by August 30
BLET State Legislative Board Chairmen are in the process of reviewing candidates for public office who are worthy of our support in the upcoming national election on November 5. Their list of candidates for federal office will be published in an upcoming issue of...
RRB budget update: Funding concerns continue as Senate proposes FY 2025 funding
The Railroad Retirement Board has provided an update as Congress considers RRB’s funding levels for fiscal year 2025. In July, a House subcommittee proposed a catastrophic $26 million budget cut for RRB. In mid-August, the Senate Committee on Appropriations approved a...
Daily Headlines
Study: Derailment risk rises with the number of cars in a freight train
The risk of derailment increases with freight train length, according to an academic study published today, which found that a 200-car train is 24% more likely to derail than a 50-car train.
NS to pay $15 million civil penalty, $57.1 million in cleanup costs over East Palestine derailment
Norfolk Southern agreed to pay a $15 million civil penalty and $57.1 million in past government cleanup costs as well as millions in future costs to resolve a U.S. government lawsuit over a 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, court documents show.
Judge signs off on $600 million East Palestine derailment settlement but residents still have questions
A federal judge has signed off on the $600 million class action settlement over last year’s disastrous Norfolk Southern derailment in eastern Ohio, but many people who live near East Palestine are still wondering how much they will end up with out of the deal.
CPKC and Teamsters Canada remain at impasse
Although Wednesday marked the end of a mandatory 21-day cooling off period under Canadian labor law, the Canada Industrial Relations Board continues to review requests to determine what commodities might be deemed essential and must keep moving during a strike.
FRA finalizes certification standards for signalmen, dispatchers
New federal certification rules finalized Monday for train dispatchers and signal repairmen will set minimum standards to counteract the investor pressure on railroads to continually cut costs while making sure those employees have the skills they need to operate all the high-tech systems on today’s trains.
Optimism grows for U.S. high-speed rail
An air of optimism prevailed at this year’s U.S. High Speed Rail conference, held May 14-15 in Washington, D.C.
AAR reports rail traffic for the week ending May 11, 2024
For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 468,748 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.6 percent compared with the same week last year.
CPKC to resume contract negotiations with TCRC
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) said on Thursday its leadership, with the assistance of federal mediators, will resume contract negotiations with the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) union on May 17.
Study shows longer freight trains have higher risk of derailment
The longer the freight train, the greater the risk of derailment, new research from the Society for Risk Analysis shows.
Communication error led to UP yard fatality, NTSB determines
The NTSB has determined that a communication breakdown over granting permission for a train movement into the yard, as well as regarding placement of a portable derail device, was the probable cause of a August 2022 Union Pacific yard fatality in El Paso, Texas.
