BLET News
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...
In the line of duty: BLET mourns the loss of Brother Daniel P. Peterson
The BLET is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Brother Daniel P. Peterson, age 52, who died on the morning of October 19 as a result of an incident while working as a conductor for BNSF Railway. Brother Peterson was a proud and active member of BLET Division 232 in...
Railroad Retirement Board Q&A: Applying for a retirement annuity
Railroad employees considering retirement should familiarize themselves with the Railroad Retirement Board’s (RRB) annuity application process. Understanding how the process works can prevent delays and ensure that annuity payments begin as soon as possible after...
National Division begins taking requests for 2026 Time Books
The BLET National Division is now taking requests from members who wish to receive a new Time Book for 2026. These books will only be distributed to members upon request. To request a Time Book, members must first log in to the Members’ Area of the BLET National...
Ongoing Federal government shutdown taking its toll on initiatives to improve rail safety
As the Federal government shutdown that began on October 1 continues, it is beginning to affect government agencies that serve the rail industry and BLET members. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been...
PEB 253 recommends raises and back pay for BLET members at LIRR
On October 17, Presidential Emergency Board No. 253 (PEB) announced its recommendations in the contract dispute between the coalition of unions (including BLET) and the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR). That PEB recommended raises with full retroactive pay for all...
Local Chairman class Q&A: Three training class participants encourage others to attend
In mid-October, the BLET Education and Training Department hosted a training class for Local Chairmen at National Division headquarters in Independence, Ohio. Three in-person workshop participants shared their thoughts about the experience. Jeffery Green represents...
PEB 253 expected to issue recommendations today in BLET-LIRR contract dispute
The BLET presented a strong case on behalf of its members as Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) 253 held formal hearings last week in the contract dispute between BLET along with several other unions and the Long Island Rail Road. It is expected that the PEB will...
Wisconsin: Lieutenant Governor joins annual BLET Team Building Session
BLET members at the Wisconsin State Legislative Board's 2025 Team Building Session. ____________________ The BLET Wisconsin State Legislative Board (WI SLB) hosted a team building session during the week of September 29. Chuck Schulz, Chairman of the WI SLB, said the...
BLET members build solidarity at state AFL-CIO convention
Officers of the BLET Nebraska SLB (front row, from left): Travis Kuenning, 1st Vice Chairman, Adam Hausman, Chairman, and Sonny Fankhauser, 2nd Vice Chairman. Back row, from left: Dustin Mintling, LR of Division 623; and Brad Gerdts Secretary-Treasurer. ...
Local Chairmen complete training workshop
The BLET Education & Training Department last week completed a hybrid training class for Local Chairmen, with over 30 members participating who represent members from eight railroads and 16 General Committees across the country. The lead instructors were BLET Vice...
Senate confirms David Fink as 16th FRA Administrator
The U.S. Senate has confirmed David Fink, the former CEO of Pan Am Railways, as the 16th Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). He was part of a block of 107 nominees who were confirmed in a 51-47 party-line vote on October 7. During his Senate...
Movement is being restricted near Santa Teresa, NM to secure the border — why should UP be allowed to operate trains with Mexican nationals there?
U.S. military personnel posting restricted access signs along the border in Santa Teresa, N.M. The area has essentially become a military base. CBS News image ____________________ Does this make any sense? This week, CBS News reported on how the border area near Santa...
Get connected with the BLET
The BLET National Division is investing more time and resources into its various social media outlets. It is the best place to go to get the latest news. Click the link below to get connected! Make sure you are signed up for the BLET Weekly News Recap. It is a...
Chicago comedian asks, “Public transit can be many things — but is it funny?”
According to the Chicago Tribune, public transportation can be many things — convenient, frustrating, cost-effective and a guaranteed way to encounter a cross section of the city’s population — but is it funny? Chicago’s Second City Theater hosted an “educomedy”...
BLET locomotive engineers ratify new contract with Metra-UP Line
BLET members today ratified a new contract with Metra that provides a 3.5 percent general wage increase. Members voted 60-1 in favor of ratification. The agreement covers BLET members employed by Metra who operate on the Metra-UP Lines and are represented by the Union...
RRB: Field Offices relocated in Cincinnati and St. Paul
Last week, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) announced that it has relocated its field offices in Cincinnati, Ohio, and St. Paul, Minnesota. The RRB said these moves are projected to save $1.2 million over a 10-year period. Click here for details.
Emidio Gonzalez elected Chairman of Nevada State Legislative Board
Emidio Gonzalez Jr. was elected as Chairman of the BLET Nevada State Legislative Board on September 26. Gonzalez is a Union Pacific locomotive engineer and a member of BLET Division 158 (Sparks, Nevada). He has been an active member of the BLET since 1999 and, in...
Government shutdown continues
A Federal government shutdown began on October 1 after the U.S. Senate failed to pass a proposal to keep government programs and services running. As of publication, it is not clear how long this shutdown will last and no progress has been made toward a deal that...
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...
