BLET News
Tentative National Agreement: Have you voted yet? There’s still time to request a replacement ballot ahead of December 30 deadline
Voting is ongoing in the BLET’s tentative national agreement with freight railroads represented by the National Carriers Conference Committee. If you have not voted yet, there is still time to cast your ballot ahead of the December 30 deadline. Additionally, if you...
FRA cracks down on the cross-border train operations thanks to outreach from BLET
On Friday, December 19, on an issue of great importance to BLET members and following direct outreach from BLET National President Mark Wallace, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is cracking down on...
BLET members in Jackson, Miss. and Memphis, Tenn. combine to donate over 270 bicycles to their communities this holiday season
BLET member Daniel Palin, who belongs to the Marine Corps League, accepts the Toys for Tots trophy on behalf of BLET Division 203 members in Jackson, Miss. ____________________ Congratulations to the Brothers and Sisters of BLET Division 203 (Jackson, Miss.) and...
New Jersey: Merry Christmas from BLET Division 601
In the cab of Conrail’s 2025 Santa Train, from left: Chris Barany, his children Cordelia and Christopher, Phil Burgos, and conductor Gene Zebrowski. _____________________ The members of Division 601 helped spread holiday cheer throughout North Jersey on December 20....
BLET Education & Training Dept.: Refresher courses via Zoom help Secretary-Treasurers with end-of-year requirements and new payroll application launching January 1, 2026
The BLET Education & Training Department conducted two Zoom-based Secretary-Treasurer refresher training sessions December 16-18 to help subordinate officers prepare for end-of-year requirements and to provide instruction for a new payroll application that will...
It’s on to the governor’s desk as New Jersey state legislature passes BLET-backed rail safety bill
From left: Brother Arias and Brother Vigil ____________________ A BLET-backed rail safety bill is now headed to the governor’s desk in New Jersey after an overwhelming majority of the state’s Senate and Assembly Members voted to approve the measure on the evening of...
Replacement ballots now available for BLET-NYSW contract vote
BLET members who work at the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway (NYSW) are currently voting on a tentative agreement. Ballots will be counted on Monday, December 29. Eligible members who have not yet received a ballot should call the National Division to have...
Tentative National Agreement: Telephone hotline to request a replacement ballot opens on December 22
The dedicated voicemail line to request replacement ballots for voting on the tentative national agreement will open Monday morning, December 22. Eligible BLET members who have not received a ballot by Monday should request a replacement by calling the BLET National...
Division 269 honors retirees, presents Engineer of the Year award to Eric Ramos, at its 58th annual Dinner Dance
From left: LIRR General Chairman Gil Lang, Superintendent of Engine Service Kevin Flynn, Engineer of the Year Eric Ramos, and Division 269 President Karl Bischoff. ____________________ BLET Division 269 and the Long Island Rail Road General Committee of Adjustment...
Regulatory Win: The U.S. government cracks down on the cross-border operations of UP and CPKC
Today, on an issue of importance to BLET members and following direct outreach from BLET National President Mark Wallace, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced that the Federal Railroad Administration is cracking down on the cross-border train operations of both Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited. The FRA has determined that a lack of basic English language proficiency exhibited by Mexican train crews operating trains into the United States for the two railroads poses a serious safety risk.
RRB announces Tier I and Tier II tax adjustments for 2026; Also, Medicare Part B premiums and deductibles will increase
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) announced this month that the amounts of compensation subject to Railroad Retirement Tier I and Tier II payroll taxes will increase in 2026, while the tax rates on employers and employees will stay the same. The Tier I tax rate on...
New law better protects railroad workers from assault
From left: BLET New England Legislative Board Chairman Daniel Cadogan with Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey at the signing ceremony. ____________________ Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed a bill into law in December that better protects the safety and...
Vice President Pete Semenek to retire, concluding his 34-year railroad career
From left: BLET President Mark Wallace congratulated Vice President Pete Semenek on his upcoming retirement during the December BLET Advisory Board meeting. Photo by Bonnie Brihan ____________________ The BLET Advisory Board held its final meeting of 2025 on December...
BLET, BMWED to oppose the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger
Today, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division representing 53 percent of the unionized workforce at the Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Corporation, announced their opposition to the...
Voting continues as BLET members consider tentative national agreement
Voting continues on the BLET’s tentative national agreement. Ballots were mailed December 5 to 12,000+ BLET members. The vote count and the announcement of the results is scheduled for Tuesday, December 30. Earlier this month the BLET wrapped up its series of nine...
James Rasnick continues proud CSX Santa Train tradition for members of BLET Division 781
Every November since the 1940s, Santa Claus trades his sleigh and reindeer for a CSX train ride through Appalachia with a member of BLET Division 781 (Erwin, Tennessee) at the controls. This year it was James Rasnick’s turn. The 26-year member of Division 781 operated...
Workers at Dakota & Iowa short line vote to join BLET
The BLET notched its 14th organizing victory since 2023 this month as a majority of workers at the Dakota and Iowa Railroad (D&I) voted to join the BLET. The National Mediation Board certified the election results on December 4. The D&I is a short line that...
GA-4600 lifetime maximum adjusted for 2026
The lifetime maximum benefit for the Railroad Employees National Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit Plan (also known as ERMA or GA-46000) will increase from $202,900 to $212,800 on January 1, 2026. At the end of 2001, Labor and Management agreed on various...
ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS: Teamsters Scholarship Fund is now accepting applications for 2026
High school seniors from the Class of 2026 who are the financial dependent of a Teamster in good standing (which includes BLET and BMWED members) are encouraged to apply for financial aid from the Teamsters Scholarship Fund by April 1, 2026. Scholarships are available...
Senate Commerce Committee holds hearing for STB, NTSB nominees
Congress returned from a holiday recess last week. Prior to Thanksgiving, the Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing to consider three nominees to positions at federal agencies that have oversight of the rail industry. Richard Kloster was nominated to be a member of...
Daily Headlines
Railroads spurn C3RS, a safety system designed to prevent accidents
Class I freight railroads incorrectly assume a punitive approach to safety gets the best results.
NS agrees to give Amtrak highest priority over freight trains and make its delay records for Amtrak trains available to the DOJ
As a result of the settlement, the Justice Department has moved to dismiss its lawsuit against Norfolk Southern.
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....
