BLET News
Sausville reelected Chairman of Florida State Legislative Board
Brother Shawn Sausville was reelected to his second term as Chairman of the BLET’s Florida State Legislative Board during its quadrennial meeting on August 28, 2024. Brother Sausville is a CSX locomotive engineer who also serves as Legislative Representative of Division 309 (Jacksonville, Fla.).
BLET continues to lead the way in publicly exposing the dangers of remote control train operations
In an August 28 national news story, the Associated Press reported on a simple solution to improving the safety of remote control train operations: two-person train crews.
Registration open for upcoming rail hazmat training classes
The Rail Workers Hazardous Materials Training Program is hosting four in-person rail worker training sessions in late 2024 and early 2025. The dates are as follows: October 13-18, 2024; January 12-17, 2025; February 16-21, 2025; and March 16-21, 2025.
FRA safety culture survey shows need for C3RS as BNSF continues to retaliate against workers for reporting safety concerns
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released the results of its safety culture survey at the BNSF Railway on August 28. The FRA found that company leaders routinely say that safety is a core value, but lower-level managers still prioritize keeping the trains...
Labor Day 2024: BLET members show their pride
Toledo photo: BLET members and guests in the Northwest Ohio area gathered to participate in the Toldeo Labor Day parade. Union pride was on full display at parades, picnics, and related events on Labor Day. Major parades took place in large cities such as Milwaukee,...
California: BLET secures C3RS safety program for new COASTER members
The BLET wasted no time in making working conditions safer for new members at COASTER by securing participation in C3RS. NCTD image _____________________ The BLET has hit the ground running at COASTER and is already making the workplace safer for its newest members....
NJ Transit: PEB 251 issues report and recommendations
On August 23, Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) 251 issued its recommendations to President Biden to settle the contract dispute between BLET and New Jersey Transit. Under the Railway Labor Act, if there is no settlement between the parties based on a PEB’s...
FRA backs BLET, denies carriers’ backdoor effort to waive PTC safety regulations
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) sided with the BLET on August 26 when it denied a joint waiver request by five railroads seeking to change operating rules in the event of unplanned Positive Train Control (PTC) outages. The BLET filed formal written comments...
BLET SLB Chairmen: Two days left to submit candidate recommendations via email
BLET State Legislative Board Chairmen are continuing to review candidates for public office who are worthy of our support in the upcoming national election on November 5. Their list of candidates for federal office will be published in an upcoming issue of the...
Melone elected new Chairman of Montana State Legislative Board
Brother Kristian (Kris) Melone, a BNSF locomotive engineer and member of BLET Division 504 (Great Falls, Mont.), was elected to his first term as Chairman at the Montana State Legislative Board’s quadrennial meeting on August 14-15, 2024. He has served as the State...
Washington: STB to hold hearing on growth in the freight rail industry — BLET’s Wallace to testify
Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Robert Primus has called a public hearing on September 16 and 17 to gather information about how the freight rail industry has grown and intends to grow in the future. STB is the federal agency charged with economic...
BLET exposes carriers’ backdoor effort to change PTC safety regulations
The BLET has called out five railroads for a backdoor attempt to make changes to Positive Train Control operating rules without going through proper regulatory channels. Each railroad has in place FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plans (PTCSP), which dictate...
TCRC defiant as government mandates binding arbitration to end CN, CPKC lockouts
Sean O’Brien, General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and François Laporte, President of Teamsters Canada, were on the picket line at CPKC’s headquarters in Calgary on August 23. ____________________ The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC)...
AFL-CIO Executive Paywatch exposes exorbitant CEO pay in railroad industry
The AFL-CIO released its annual Executive Paywatch report which tracks how worker wages have fallen while CEO pay continues to soar. Here are some highlights from the railroad industry: CEO to worker pay ratios CSX — 116:1 (it previously was a 186:1 ratio) Union...
Illinois: Division 644 recognizes three Brothers upon retirement
From left: Rob Weimer, BNSF Galesburg Assistant Superintendent; Brandon Sauvageau BNSF LaCrosse Superintendent; Will Wayzny BNSF Superintendent Of Safety; Division 644 Locomotive Engineer James VonKannon; Division 644 Locomotive Engineer Troy Ericson; Division 644...
Lambert reelected to second term as UP-Eastern District General Chairman
Officers, members, and guests at the UP-Eastern District GCA's quadrennial meeting in Omaha, Neb., on August 14, 2024. _____________________ Chad Lambert was reelected to his second term as General Chairman during the Union Pacific-Eastern District General Committee...
BLET SLB Chairmen: Candidate recommendations due by August 30
BLET State Legislative Board Chairmen are in the process of reviewing candidates for public office who are worthy of our support in the upcoming national election on November 5. Their list of candidates for federal office will be published in an upcoming issue of...
RRB budget update: Funding concerns continue as Senate proposes FY 2025 funding
The Railroad Retirement Board has provided an update as Congress considers RRB’s funding levels for fiscal year 2025. In July, a House subcommittee proposed a catastrophic $26 million budget cut for RRB. In mid-August, the Senate Committee on Appropriations approved a...
BLET stands in solidarity with Teamsters Canada Rail Conference
Roughly 10,000 members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference will be able to strike, or will be locked out by management, if a settlement is not reached by August 22. Photo courtesy of TCRC ____________________ BLET members in the United States are standing with our...
NJ Transit: Agency has money for a “fare holiday,” but says it can’t afford pay raises for locomotive engineers
NJ Transit leaders just can’t seem to get their story straight. In arguments before Presidential Emergency Board 251 earlier this month, NJ Transit plead poverty and said it had no room in its budget for additional expenses like pay raises for locomotive engineers....
Daily Headlines
Norfolk Southern CEO fired for “consensual relationship” with railroad’s chief legal officer
A statement from the company on Wednesday said that Shaw had been dismissed “for cause,” which could prevent him from collecting the kind of exit package that CEOs often receive when shown the door.
Safety concerns are at the heart of the TCRC-CN/CPKC dispute as arbitration decision draws near
A major issue in the ongoing negotiations is fatigue safety. According to the union, the railway companies are seeking to weaken protections around rest periods, shift length and scheduling.
Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw to step down amid misconduct probe, sources say
The Wall Street Journal reported that the railroad’s board opened a probe into him late Sunday over an alleged affair with an employee.
Amtrak and partners break ground on new Connecticut River Bridge
The new bridge will support a maximum train operating speed of 70 mph, a 55% increase from today’s maximum speed of 45 mph.
TCRC formally appeals binding arbitration order
The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (Teamsters) filed appeals challenging the decisions that led to binding arbitration being imposed on workers at CN and CPKC, effectively stripping them of their right to collectively bargain.
ATDA organizes train dispatchers at Genesee & Wyoming
On September 4, 2024, the NMB announced that Train Dispatchers from the Genesee & Wyoming Railroad have voted to unionize with the ATDA.
Rail worker’s death in Ohio railyard highlights union questions about remote control trains
BLET Vice President Randy Fannon, who heads the union’s Safety Task Force, said he thinks, “This tragic incident in Ohio involving a remotely operated train, blindly controlled from behind, would not have happened if there had been a locomotive engineer in the cab.”
BNSF stresses safety but is still held back by longstanding industry issues, report finds
The FRA also reiterated its recommendation for BNSF and all the major freight railroads to sign on to the confidential federal safety reporting hotline for workers to report concerns without fear of being punished.
Back-to-work order issued at CN, CPKC; TCRC will comply, but lawsuit planned
The Canadian arbitrator appointed to resolve a messy railroad labor dispute to protect the North American economy has ordered employees at the country’s two major railroads back to work so both can resume operating.
Canada forces arbitration in freight train labor dispute; Union cries foul
The union representing 10,000 engineers, conductors and dispatchers responded angrily to the order, accusing the railroads of intentionally creating a crisis to force the government to intervene. It also said it would keep its picket lines in place while reviewing the decision.
