BLET News

Rail workers report that America’s rail system is no better protected than before terrorist bombings in Madrid and London, despite repeated warnings from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that trains are a likely terrorist target.

The Teamsters Disaster Relief Fund is accepting applications for assistance from members in Louisiana and Texas following Hurricane Rita, which struck on September 23.

Effective January 1, 2006, the C&O Employees’ Hospital Association (COEHA) has a contract with the Federal government to provide railroad-connected individuals with an enhanced Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plan.

This is the first in a three-part series of articles in which the BLET takes a look at recent actions of the Federal Railroad Administration, the Association of American Railroads, and the United Transportation Union to further expand the use of remote control locomotives to main track territory.

In Part I of the series, we take a look at the FRA’s continuing failure to affirmatively regulate remote control, and how FRA’s latest action impacts the safety of the nation’s railroads.

In Part II of the series, we examine the reactions of the AAR and UTU to FRA’s September 9, 2005 letter.

In this part, we pose numerous questions to FRA, AAR, and UTU, that their position on remote control have raised.

For the second time in less than nine months, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen has lost a member to an accident that occurred in dark territory.

Funeral arrangements for Brother G.Y. Bailey have been confirmed.

Brother G.Y. Bailey, Local Chairman of BLET Division 62 in Houston, was killed last night when his train collided head-on with a southbound chemical train in dark territory about 60 miles northeast of Houston.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has launched its Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS) website, which it hopes will improve safety in the railroad industry.

The Education & Training Department of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen is seeking participants for an advanced Local Chairman Workshop scheduled for November 6-12, 2005.

Many railroad workers have been laid off because of Hurricane Katrina and need to file applications for unemployment benefits with the Railroad Retirement Board.

The Federal District Court for the Northern District of Ohio — Eastern Division, has issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and UTU, ordering both unions to “notify their general chairpersons, local chairpersons, and employees under their jurisdiction that this Court has ordered that AMFA’s picket lines be crossed” at CSX and Norfolk Southern.

Members of the BLET’s Grand International Auxiliary (GIA) in the Houston area have established a Southern Region BLET General Committee Relief Fund to benefit all BLET members in the New Orleans area that have been devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Labor day is the one day each year that we honor our nation’s workers. It is a day for all Americans to unite in celebration of the workers that have made this country great.

Facing the worst natural disaster in the history of the United States, it is time for all BLET members to come to the aid of their Brothers and Sisters who have been impacted by this tragedy.

The Teamsters Disaster Relief Fund is accepting applications for assistance from members in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.

The Teamsters Disaster Relief Fund recently received a disaster alert notice for the state of Wyoming, due to a tornado on August 12.

BLET members have rejected an initiative that would have created larger local divisions within the Brotherhood.

In an attempt to rebut the latest UTU spin-doctoring, here is what really happened concerning the operating crafts at Via Rail.