BLET News
Rail Conference in the spotlight as IBT hosted 2024 Political Coordinators Meeting
BLET SLB Chairmen (SLBC) who attended the Political Coordinators Meeting. Front row, from left: Brendan Sullivan (BLET Director of Political Affairs), Corey Martin (Illinois SLBC), Adam Hausman (Nebraska SLBC), and Vince Verna (BLET Vice President & NLR). Back...
Chicago: Ballots mailed in tentative Metra, UP implementing agreement
Ballots were mailed last week to BLET members eligible to vote on a tentative implementing agreement regarding Metra’s takeover of services from the Union Pacific Railroad. Ballots were mailed to 307 members. UP has provided operating crews to Metra since its purchase...
New report says railroads and regulators must address dangers of long trains
The recently-released report confirms what the BLET has been saying all along. Longer trains create a greater risk of overall safety. Photo courtesy of Cory Rusch, BLET Division 659 ____________________ A report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and...
In his testimony to the STB, First VP Wallace says “inept” Class I management, PSR to blame for lack of growth in rail industry
BLET First Vice President Mark Wallace did not mince his words when he testified at the Surface Transportation Board’s public hearing that focused on the lack of growth and poor service in the freight rail industry. “To be clear, today’s rail service problems and lack...
ATDA, BLET, & SMART-TD jointly endorse Sherrod Brown for US Senate after he meets with Presidents of the three unions at ATDA HQ
For Ohio’s rail workers and union members across the state, the choice is clear. Sherrod Brown has spent his career fighting for them—fighting for fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to organize. Bernie Moreno, by contrast, poses a threat to the very existence of unions and the protections they provide.
Teamsters Rail Conference endorses Harris-Walz
The 70,000-member Teamsters Rail Conference represents locomotive engineers, trainmen, and maintenance-of-way workers on all major freight railroads in the United States, Amtrak, and many of the nation’s commuter rail systems and short lines. The 70,000-member...
Education & Training: Record attendance for September 12 Local Chairman class
The BLET National Division Education & Training Department hosted a claims and grievance training class for Local Chairmen on September 12. “With 113 attendees in person and via Zoom, it was the largest single training class hosted since our Department was founded...
BLET-backed identity protection bill signed into law in Illinois
Cory Martin, Chairman of the BLET Illinois State Legislative Board ____________________ Last month, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a BLET-backed privacy bill into law that protects the identities of train crew members following grade crossing incidents...
Nunnenkamp reelected Kansas Legislative Board Chairman
Brandon Nunnenkamp of BLET Division 130 (Kansas City, Kan.) was reelected to his second term as Chairman of the Kansas State Legislative Board at its quadrennial meeting in Lenexa, Kan., September 4-6. Brother Nunnenkamp is a BNSF locomotive engineer. He was first...
In the Line of Duty: Division 604 member Jerry D. Arterberry, 1969-2024
Brother Jerry D. Arterberry, a BNSF conductor and member of BLET Division 604, suffered a medical emergency and passed away while working at BNSF’s yard in Madill, Oklahoma, on September 7. He was 54 years old.
Americans’ approval of labor unions near highest level since 1960s
A Gallup survey release just prior to Labor Day 2024 shows that a strong majority of Americans continue to view labor unions in a positive light.
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...
Daily Headlines
UP undermined FRA safety culture assessment
The meddling was so widespread across Union Pacific’s 23-state network that the Federal Railroad Administration had no choice but to suspend its safety assessment of the company.
Teamsters Canada members vote to authorize strike at CN, CPKC
Unless parties can reach an agreement, a work stoppage can occur as early as May 22, at 00:01.
Union Pacific’s Q1 2024 profit up 1% as railroad limits expenses
Union Pacific said it made $1.64 billion, or $2.69 per share, in the first quarter of 2024. That’s higher than last year’s $1.63 billion, or $.2.67 per share.
NS Q1 2024 earnings offer railroad a chance to defend its strategy ahead of control vote
Norfolk Southern confirmed the $53 million, or 23 cents per share, that it earned in the first quarter.
CPKC says longer hauls helped propel Q1 2024 earnings
On a combined basis — which estimates the effects of the CP-KCS merger as if it had become effective on Jan. 1, 2023, instead of April 14, 2023 — CPKC’s operating income was flat, at $1.2 billion, as revenue increased 2%, to $3.5 billion.
New Jersey Rep. Donald Payne Jr. dies at 65
The BLET mourns the passing of Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr. (D-NJ), a staunch advocate for rail safety who served as Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials.
Jury: BNSF contributed to 2 asbestos-related deaths in Montana
A federal jury on Monday said BNSF Railway contributed to the deaths of two people who were exposed to asbestos decades ago when tainted mining material was shipped through a Montana town where thousands have been sickened.
AAR reports rail traffic for the week ending April 13, 2024
For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 466,463 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.5 percent compared with the same week last year.
CSX profit drops 10% in Q1 2024; CEO says Baltimore bridge collapse will reduce Q2 revenue by about $25 million per month
The railroad said on April 17 that it earned $893 million, or 46 cents per share, in the first three months of the year as it handled 3% more freight. That’s down from $987 million, or 48 cents per share, a year ago.
BRC-TCU secures sick leave at CPKC
(Source: Transportation Communications Union press release, April 16, 2024) The Brotherhood of Railway Carmen Division (BRC-TCU) is proud to announce that a sick leave agreement has been reached with Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railroad (CPKC). This agreement is in...
