BLET News
BLET members attend annual rail labor solidarity rally in Houston
BLET members and their families from across the Lonestar State participated in the annual Houston Solidarity Rally on October 15, joining with several hundred other Texas railroad workers from other operating and shop crafts. See photo gallery of the event here.
2024 Election: Tim Walz has a record of supporting rail labor
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (center, blue tie) at the BLET Minnesota State Legislative Board meeting in April of 2023. ____________________ During campaign season, politicians will make promises — but can they deliver? Can they be believed? In Tim Walz’s case, the...
Georgia: OSHA orders back pay, punitive damages and legal fees for two BLET members after CSXT violates whistleblower law
An administrative law judge at the U.S. Department of Labor has ordered CSX Transportation to pay a total of $453,510 to two BLET members who were wrongfully terminated for exercising their federally protected rights to report workplace safety concerns. The decision...
Project 2025 would eliminate two-person train crew regulation, cut rail safety inspections
Project 2025 is a 920-page document that spells out what Republicans plan to do if they were to gain the presidency in the 2024 election. While candidate Trump has denied knowledge of the document, it was written by at least 140 Trump advisers and former (and likely...
Chicago: BLET members ratify Metra-UP implementing agreement
The ratified implementing agreement with Metra governs 307 BLET members. Photo courtesy of Cory Rusch, BLET Division 659 ____________________ BLET members last week ratified an implementing agreement related to Metra’s takeover of services from the Union Pacific...
Order now: Request your 2025 Time Book
The BLET National Division is now taking requests from members who wish to receive a new Time Book for 2025. These books will only be distributed to members upon request. To receive a Time Book, members must first log in to the Members’ Area of the BLET National...
National negotiations: BLET Advisory Board, National Wage Team and General Chairmen continue preparations
The BLET Advisory Board met on October 7 at the National Division to discuss many pressing issues crucial to the Brotherhood. Bargaining strategies for this next round of contract talks with the largest carriers were the main topic of discussion when the BLET...
Monthly employee contributions under the National Health & Welfare Plan will decrease by 10.2% in 2025
Though health care costs continue to rise nationally, healthcare premiums and the 15% employee monthly cost-sharing contributions will decrease in 2025 for BLET members covered by the National H&W Plans. Monthly employee cost sharing contributions will decrease by...
Arizona: Governor signs BLET-backed transportation worker assault bill
Pictured: BLET Arizona State Legislative Board Chairman Kevin Onnembo (third from right) at the governor's signing ceremony for HB 2742. ____________________ BLET Arizona State Legislative Board Chairman Kevin Onnembo was on hand earlier this month as Governor Katie...
2024 Election: BLET Legislative Board recommendations
In advance of the general election on November 5, the BLET National Division is publishing a list of voting recommendations from the various BLET State Legislative Board Chairmen. The list includes candidates for governor, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House of...
Texas: Annual rail labor solidarity rally slated for October 15
BLET members are encouraged to attend the annual Houston Solidarity Rally, which runs from noon-7:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday, October 15. The rally features guest speakers from organized labor (including BLET), presentations from the Railroad Retirement Board and various...
Texas: BLET notches another short line organizing victory — third one in 2024
Train and engine service employees at Transglobal Solutions/TGS Cedar Port Railroad in Baytown, Texas, voted overwhelmingly in favor of joining the BLET this week. Rail industry publication Progressive Railroading described Cedar Port, where the railroad operates, as...
Members still have time to request replacement ballots in Metra-UP implementing agreement
Ballots are due on October 8 in the Metro-Union Pacific implementing agreement. Photo: Chase Gunnoe _____________________ BLET members are continuing to vote on a tentative implementing agreement regarding Metra’s takeover of services from the Union Pacific Railroad....
Pearson reelected to third term as Colorado State Legislative Board Chairman
Brother Paul Pearson of BLET Division 133 (Denver, Colo.) was reelected by acclamation to his third term as Chairman of the Colorado State Legislative Board at its 8th quadrennial meeting in Centennial, Colo., on September 18. Brother Pearson hired out with the...
Help is available for BLET members who suffered damage or property loss from Hurricane Helene
Big Bend Region, Florida — Coast Guard personnel from the Gulf Strike team and Station Pascagoula conducting urban search and rescue operations alongside federal and state partners to assist stranded people. (Photo Credit: U.S. Coast Guard) ____________________ More...
Biden-Harris administration calls on CPKC, CN and CSXT to guarantee paid sick leave for all railroad workers
Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. Department of Labor photo ____________________ On September 25, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and U.S. Department of Labor Acting Secretary Julie Su sent letters to the CEOs of three Class I freight railroads — CPKC,...
Buffalo: CSXT’s remote control trains kill and maim pedestrians
The BLET continues to expose the dangers of remote control train operations after three tragic pedestrian incidents — including a fatality — in Buffalo, New York. The lead story on Page 1 of the September 22 issue of the Buffalo News says it all: “Driverless trains...
New England: Cadogan reelected State Legislative Board Chairman
The BLET’s New England Legislative Board, formerly known as the Massachusetts State Legislative Board, reelected Daniel Cadogan as Chairman at its 8th quadrennial meeting held virtually on September 7, 2024. This will be the third term of office for Brother Cadogan,...
BLET President Hall on hand as ATDA is inducted into DOL’s Century of Service Honor Roll
From left: Retired ATDA President Leo McCann, Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su and ATDA President Ed Dowell (DOL photograph) ____________________ The American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA) was one of nine unions honored by the U.S. Department of Labor on...
Georgia: New state law increases penalties for assault against railroad workers
BLET Georgia State Legislative Board Chairman Dwayne Massengale (second from left) at the desk of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp during the signing ceremony. ____________________ A new law in the State of Georgia, backed by the BLET, increases the punishment for assault...
Daily Headlines
Activist investor wins 3 Norfolk Southern board seats but won’t have control to fire CEO
Norfolk Southern’s CEO will be under more pressure to improve profits after the railroad’s shareholders voted Thursday to elect three of the board members an activist investor nominated, but he won’t be fired right away.
BNSF Q1 2024 earnings decline as coal volume plunges, intermodal traffic soars
BNSF Railway’s first-quarter earnings and revenue declined despite a 7% increase in freight volume.
Shippers express disappointment with STB reciprocal switching rule
The Surface Transportation Board’s reciprocal switching rule for inadequate rail service is a “missed opportunity,” the National Industrial Transportation League says.
What the proxy fight at Norfolk Southern means for railroad safety
Just more than a year after a massive derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight train led to the release of tank cars full of toxic chemicals and increased attention to the issue of railroad safety, the control of the railroad is up for grabs at its annual meeting Thursday.
Union Pacific CEO advocates seamless border operations at Mexico gateways
Freight train operations across the U.S.-Mexican border should be as seamless as they are across the U.S.-Canadian border, Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena told a shipper group last week.
NS shareholders to decide today whether to back investors who want to fire the CEO
Norfolk Southern shareholders will decide Thursday morning (May 9) whether to back an activist investor’s bid to take over the railroad’s board and replace management.
Train Dispatchers, FRA, BNSF partner on C3RS pilot program
In a win for rail safety and rail workers, the FRA announced that the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA) and BNSF Railway will partner with FRA to join a pilot program of the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS).
STB’s Oberman sets May 10 date for retirement
Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin J. Oberman announced that he will retire from the Board on May 10, 2024.
White House to nominate Clegg, Batory for Amtrak Board of Directors
President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Elaine Marie Clegg and Ronald L. Batory to be Members of the Amtrak Board of Directors.
NTSB issues preliminary report on UP track worker fatality
The NTSB report says the incident came after the victim walked near the tread on the south side of the excavator; the machine’s operator was in the process of moving ballast when the bucket struck the manager; he was pinned between the bucket and body of the machine, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
