BLET News
Minnesota: BLET will now have a seat at the table on governor’s Freight Rail Council
Governor Tim Walz (front row, blue tie) was the guest of honor at the Minnesota SLB quadrennial meeting in 2023. He recently named Chairman Joel Mueller (front row, center) to the governor's Freight Rail Council. _____________________ Minnesota lawmakers adopted two...
Deluzio appointed to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, pictured here at a recent roundtable discussion on rail safety, had many constituents in his Pennsylvania district affected by the derailment in East Palestine. ______________________ U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA) has been appointed to the...
Wyoming: BLET Division 103 marks 155th anniversary
Division 103 members pose with their original charter which they presented to the Wyoming State Archives. ____________________ BLET Division 103 is celebrating its 155th anniversary. The Division is the oldest, still active union in the state of Wyoming. It was...
Evans reelected General Chairman of CN-IC GCA
Newly reelected GC Billy Evans (front row, center) with the members of the CN-IC GCA. ____________________ William (Billy) Evans was reelected to his third term of office as General Chairman of the BLET’s CN-IC General Committee of Adjustment at the GCA’s quadrennial...
Study finds that derailment risk increases as trains get longer
A recent academic study by researchers from Brigham Young University, Georgetown University, and Virginia Tech found that the risk of derailment increases with train length. The study, which analyzed FRA data from 2013-2022, found that a 200-car freight train is 24%...
Obituary: Retired BLET General Chairman Tony Smith
Retired BLET General Chairman Tony Smith, who served the CSXT Eastern Lines GCA for 22 years, passed away on June 15, 2024. He was 71 years old. He is survived by his wife Ann, sons Bryant and Anthony and grandson Sam. Tony and Ann were married for 48 years. Brother...
Indiana Harbor Belt: BLET Members show solidarity amid attempted raid
BLET Division 682 members working at the Indiana Harbor Belt (IHB) have been dealing with a raid from SMART-TD, which has been acting increasingly desperate due to continued membership losses. On June 12, at Hammond, IN, nearly 50 BLET members and officers gathered...
Organizing win in Arizona: Railroaders abandoned by SMART-TD vote to join the BLET
The Arizona Eastern Railway (AZER) train and engine service employees have voted to join the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), becoming the newest members of BLET, the nation’s oldest union. The election was certified on June 13 by the National...
Missouri’s elected leaders discuss need for rail safety after East Palestine
Missouri State Representatives Robert Sauls (front row, 3rd from left) and Patty Lewis (front row, 4th from left) with BLET members from Missouri. _____________________ Elected government leaders from the State of Missouri addressed BLET members during the Western...
SMART-TD President Continues Misinformation Campaign
A Message to the Members: From the BLET Advisory Board June 11, 2024 Dear Brothers and Sisters: This is an open letter from the BLET Advisory Board in response to the comments made by the President of the Transportation Division of the International Association of...
FRA to relaunch remote control RSAC group
From left: BLET President Eddie Hall, FRA Administrator Amit Bose, First VP Mark Wallace and National S-T David Estes ____________________ FRA Administrator Amit Bose revealed during his speech at the BLET Western Regional Meeting in Kansas City that the FRA will soon...
Kansas City: BLET wraps up 2024 Western Regional Meeting
Thursday, June 6, was the final day of BLET’s Western Regional Meeting in Kansas City, Missouri. More than 300 BLET members participated in educational workshops and specialized training for Local Chairmen, Legislative Representatives, and Secretary-Treasurers....
Nevada: Don’t roll the dice on railroad safety
It’s been a year since Nevada’s governor vetoed an important rail safety bill, and the BLET is marking this anniversary by calling on Nevada legislators to put rail safety over corporate profits. A joint message from Brother Matt Parker, Chairman of the Nevada State...
CN-IC, Iowa Northern: Members ratify new implementing agreement
BLET members have voted in favor of an implementing agreement regarding the Canadian National-Illinois Central Railway’s (CN-IC) acquisition of the Iowa Northern Railway. Ballots were tabulated on May 30, 2024. The implementing agreement addresses changes in...
Ohio: House of Representatives passes “Stop, Look and Listen” rail safety bill
Dr. Michele Grim (front row, fourth from right) marched with BLET members at the 2023 Toledo Labor Day parade. ____________________ The Ohio House of Representatives has passed a BLET-backed railroad safety bill. The bill’s primary sponsor — Dr. Michele Grim, Ohio...
BLET’s National Legislative Board Chairmen hold annual meeting with Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives among the guests
From left: Jordan Wheeler, Div. 234 and Ross County (Ohio) Clerk of Courts; John Esterly, Ohio SLB Chairman; and Jason Stephens, Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives. ____________________ Members of the BLET’s National Association of State Legislative Board...
Remote control: BLET stands on the side of safety, others stand with management
In his remarks to The New York Times, BLET First Vice President Mark Wallace was highly critical of the Union Pacific Railroad regarding remote control train operations. “We have seen an aggressive approach by Union Pacific to take remote controls outside the...
Explosive New York Times investigative report exposes dangers of remote control operations
The BLET questions the safety of remote control train operations and demands safety reforms in a sweeping investigative report published by the New York Times on May 27 (via Yahoo, no subscription necessary). This major news story with national implications came about...
FRA: Certification standards will be required for train dispatchers and signalmen
On May 20, the FRA published two final rules that will require railroads to develop certification standards and training programs for train dispatchers and signal workers. Unlike locomotive engineers, there have previously been no federal regulations mandating...
Amtrak: BLET helps kick off new Borealis service from St. Paul to Chicago
From left: Joel Mueller, BLET Minnesota SLB Chairman, Riley Richmond, BLET Division 27, and Chad Roehrich, BLET Midwest Regional Chairman-Amtrak GCA. _____________________ BLET member Riley Richmond worked as the locomotive engineer on the inaugural run of Amtrak’s...
Daily Headlines
Three railroads ask federal court to toss out STB’s reciprocal switching rule
Canadian National, CSX, and Union Pacific last week asked a federal appeals court to set aside the Surface Transportation Board’s new reciprocal switching rule, which will allow sole-served shippers in terminal areas to request access to a second railroad if their rail service falls below certain standards.
U.S. Senate extends Homendy’s term as Chair of NTSB
The U.S. Senate last night confirmed a three-year extension of Jennifer Homendy’s term as chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Senator Baldwin pushes railroads to address staffing shortages that compromise safety and service for Americans
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) called on the six Class I railroads to address severe staffing shortages that are endangering workers, increasing the risk of derailments and accidents, and raising costs for Wisconsin farmers, businesses, and consumers.
EPA calls East Palestine whistleblower reports false
The Region 5 Environmental Protection Agency pushed back at a recent Associated Press report that accuses the agency of not fully utilizing an advanced aircraft that could have collected crucial air monitoring and data during the vent-and-burn of vinyl chloride following last year’s derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight train.
President Biden designates Robert E. Primus as STB Chairman
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. has designated Robert E. Primus Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board effective May 11, 2024.
FRA makes more than $2 billion in new funding available to Northeast Corridor
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) that makes available over $2 billion in Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program funding for projects located on the Northeast Corridor.
Federal lawsuit claims CSX violated FMLA anti-retaliation provisions
More than 100 employees have been terminated or suspended since 2017, according to the complaint.
Whistleblower questions delays and mistakes in way EPA used sensor plane after East Palestine derailment
The U.S. government has a specialized plane loaded with advanced sensors that officials brag is always ready to deploy within an hour of any kind of chemical disaster. But the plane didn’t fly over eastern Ohio until four days after the disastrous Norfolk Southern derailment there last year.
President Biden to nominate Primus as next STB Chairman
President Joe Biden intends to nominate STB member Robert Primus as chairman, following the May 10 retirement of Martin Oberman.
NTSB: Improperly lined switch contributed to CSX collision in Folkston, Ga.
Three crew members were sent to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
