BLET News
BLET reaches tentative agreement for CPKC Soo Line locomotive engineers
Ballots are due back to the National Division by Thursday, December 11. Photo by Cory Rusch, BLET Division 659 ____________________ The BLET has reached a tentative five-year agreement with the CPKC for locomotive engineers who work on the CPKC Soo Line territory....
BLET holds Town Hall meetings in Pennsylvania, more dates added for the upcoming weeks
BLET members turned out in strong numbers and came prepared with thoughtful, detailed questions at our recent Town Hall meetings in Harrisburg, PA, on November 16, and Pittsburgh, PA, on November 17. See photo highlights of the Pennsylvania meetings. The discussions...
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, in a Sunday front page story, highlights safety concerns with the proposed rail merger
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in a Sunday front page story that in the aftermath of the devastating 2023 East Palestine chemical spill and fire, Norfolk Southern invested hundreds of millions of dollars to boost safety through improved training programs,...
BLET Town Hall Meetings set for Spokane, Alliance, & Kansas City — Plus December Zoom Sessions
All BLET members are encouraged to attend the upcoming Town Hall meetings to discuss the terms of the tentative national agreement. These meetings are an opportunity for members to hear directly from national officers, ask questions, and share feedback. In addition to...
BLET to host Town Hall Meeting in Roanoke on November 21
The BLET will host a Town Hall Meeting in Roanoke, Va., on Friday, November 21, to discuss the terms of the tentative national agreement. This in-person meeting will provide an opportunity for members to hear directly from national officers, ask questions, and share...
Federal government shutdown ends after 43 days, the longest in U.S. history
The federal government shutdown that began on October 1 came to an end this week after Republican and Democratic Senators struck a deal on the evening of November 9. The 43-day shutdown was the longest in American history. The Senate on November 11 passed the deal by...
Ballots mailed in tentative agreement with Indiana & Ohio Railway
The BLET has reached a tentative agreement (TA) with the Indiana & Ohio Railway (IORY). Ballots were mailed to members this week. The five-year TA runs through 2030 and provides a 7% general wage increase (GWI) for 2026, with 4% GWIs each year from 2027-2030....
Three Town Hall meetings set for next week to discuss tentative national agreement
All BLET members are invited to three Town Hall meetings next week to discuss the tentative national agreement. These meetings are an opportunity for members to hear directly from national officers, ask questions, and share feedback. Details are as follows:...
Veterans Day 2025: BLET thanks all veterans and their families
On this Veterans Day, the BLET thanks all members who have served in our nation’s armed services. Thank you for your service and the sacrifices made by you and your families. We salute you.
RRB announces new location for Boston field office
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has announced that its Boston District Office has moved to a new location. RRB previously announced similar field office relocations in Ohio and Minnesota (details here). The RRB said the moves are part of a series of relocations...
Railroad Retirement Board: Monthly annuities, earnings limits will rise in 2026
Most railroad retirement annuities, like Social Security benefits, will increase in January 2026. Cost-of-living increases are calculated each year in both the Tier I and Tier II portions of a railroad retirement annuity. The Tier I portion, like Social Security...
BLET National Division staffer Sandra Slaughter retires
National Secretary-Treasurer David Estes (left) with retiring BLET staff member Sandra Slaughter, Executive Assistant to the President’s Staff. ____________________ The BLET National Division celebrated the retirement of Sandra Slaughter, Executive Assistant to the...
BLET Town Hall Meetings — Next Week
All BLET members are invited to two Town Hall meetings next week to discuss the tentative national agreement. These meetings are an opportunity for members to hear directly from national officers, ask questions, and share feedback: Tuesday, November 11 – Needles, CA/...
Deadline extended through November 14 to enroll in Health FSA program
The deadline for BLET members to enroll or change their Medical or Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA) benefit selections for the 2026 benefit year has been extended from October 31 to midnight on November 14, 2025. It’s important to note that members must enroll...
BLET reaches tentative agreement on national contract
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) today reached a tentative national agreement with freight railroads represented by the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC). Highlights of the tentative five-year contract include: General wage...
BLET’s District of Columbia Legislative Board hosts 20th anniversary celebration
From left: Herbert Harris Jr., Chairman; Kelly Hamrick, Alternate Secretary-Treasurer; Vince Verna, BLET Vice President & National Legislative Representative; Dorian Potts, Secretary-Treasurer; and Carlyle Smith, First Vice Chairman. ____________________ Members...
Illinois legislature approves $1.5 billion spending bill to fund mass transit, avert fiscal cliff
Early this morning, the Illinois Legislature passed a bill that averts the fiscal cliff at Metra, PACE and CTA by providing $1.5 billion in public transit funding. Governor Pritzker is expected to sign bill into law. About 300 BLET members work for Metra as locomotive...
Bob Peters elected General Chairman of NS-Northern Lines GCA as Dewayne Dehart retires after a dozen years in the elected office
Bob Peters was elected General Chairman of the BLET’s Norfolk Southern-Northern Lines General Committee of Adjustment at the GCA’s quadrennial meeting at BLET National Division headquarters on October 20-21, 2025. The NS-N GCA represents more than 2,400 active and...
BLET reaches tentative agreement with Western New York & Pennsylvania
Ballots are due back to the National Division by November 11. Photo by Cory Rusch, BLET Division 659 ____________________ The BLET has reached a tentative five-year agreement with the Western New York & Pennsylvania (WNYP) Railroad, governing rates of pay,...
Mark your calendars: 2026 BLET regional meetings to provide training, fellowship
BLET members who are scheduling their vacations for next year should make plans to attend one or both of the BLET’s regional meetings in 2026. The 2026 Western Regional Meeting will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana, the week of July 13, while the 2026 Eastern...
Daily Headlines
Trump nominates rail consultant Kloster to STB, re-nominates Schults
The nominations now go to the Senate for confirmation, although a timeline for confirmation is unknown.
Trump fires STB Board member Robert Primus
Primus, a Democrat, was appointed by Trump in 2020.
Citing lives at risk, BLET urges UP to allow trail to stunning waterfall in Northern California
(Source: Los Angeles Times, August 5, 2025) About 10 times each day, giant freight trains pass along a narrow section of track along the Sacramento River in far Northern California where engineers on the locomotives regularly tense up with stress. “Every single time,...
BNSF reports Q2 2025 results
(Source: Progressive Railroading, August 5, 2025) BNSF Railway Co. recently reported second-quarter revenue of $5.7 billion, which was flat compared with second-quarter 2024’s mark. The Class I’s operating income and net income in the quarter climbed 19%...
OSHA orders UP to reinstate engineer, provide $300K in back pay
(Source: U.S. Department of Labor press release, August 6, 2025) DALLAS – A federal whistleblower investigation found that Union Pacific Railroad Co. violated the Federal Railroad Safety Act by terminating a railroad engineer after the employee reported and sought...
Wheeling & Lake Erie sold for $1.05 billion
(Railfan & Railroad Magazine, August 7, 2025) The Wheeling & Lake Erie, the over 800-mile regional railroad that runs through Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, is being sold to FTAI Infrastructure, Inc., for $1.05 billion. Once approved by...
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern announce plans to create America’s first transcontinental railroad
(Source: Union Pacific press release, July 29, 2025) Union Pacific Corporation and Norfolk Southern Corporation today announced an agreement to create America’s first transcontinental railroad. These legendary companies will seamlessly connect over 50,000 route miles...
CPKC reports Q2 2025 results
(Source: Canadian Pacific Kansas City press release, July 30, 2025) Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) today announced its second-quarter results, including revenues of $3.7 billion, diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.33 and core adjusted diluted EPS1 of $1.12....
CSX reports Q2 2025 results
(Source: CSX press release, July 23, 2025) CSX Corp. announced second quarter 2025 operating income of $1.28 billion compared to $1.45 billion in the prior year period. Net income was $829 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, compared to $963 million, or $0.49 per...
Norfolk Southern reports Q2 2025 results
(Source: Norfolk Southern press release, July 29, 2025) Norfolk Southern Corporation announced its second quarter 2025 financial results. For the quarter, revenue was $3.1 billion, income from railway operations was $1.2 billion, operating ratio was 62.2%, and diluted...
