BLET News
Arizona: Division 28 hosts National Division officers for Division meeting, Old Timers Picnic
It was a week for union conversations and also camaraderie for members and officers of BLET Division 28 in Tucson, Arizona. On April 18, the Division hosted National President Eddie A. Hall, First Vice President Mark L. Wallace, National Vice President Gary D. Best,...
Get involved: Join us in Kansas City June 3-7
Brothers and Sisters, I am writing to personally invite you and your family to attend this year’s Western Regional Meeting in Kansas City, Missouri. The meeting will take place the week of June 3 at the Marriott, Kansas City Downtown. Our Education and Training...
Brightline West groundbreaking: “Full speed ahead” with Rail Labor on board
On April 22, Brightline West officially broke ground on its Las Vegas to Southern California high-speed rail system. The 218-mile route will be constructed within the median of the I-15 highway with zero grade crossings, and is based on Brightline’s business model of...
Nevada BLET member encourages Colorado lawmakers to support rail safety bill
Drawing on his experience in lobbying for a rail safety bill in Nevada, BLET Division 766 (Las Vegas) member Jason Doering is using the media to urge legislators in Colorado to support a rail safety bill. Brother Doering’s opinion column was published in the Colorado...
FRA two-person crew regulation: Teamsters say regulators should resist industry push for single pilot cockpits
As rail labor unions celebrated the Federal Railroad Administration’s new regulation requiring two-person crews on freight trains, airline pilot unions raised the question: Can the same policy continue for aircrafts? While current U.S. regulations require two pilots...
Register today! Hotel reservations must be made by May 3 for BLET’s Kansas City regional meeting
BLET members are encouraged to make their reservations as soon as possible for the Western Regional Meeting, which will be held in Kansas City, Missouri, the week of June 3, 2024. Hotel room reservations must be made by May 3, 2024. The meeting will be held at the...
BLET announces creation of the New England Legislative Board
New England Legislative Board Chairman Dan Cadogan _____________________ The BLET is proud to announce the formation of the New England Legislative Board (NELB). It was established earlier this year to acknowledge the regionalization and expansion of the former...
Colorado: Thanks to BLET effort and testimony, rail safety bill advances in state legislature
Colorado State Legislative Board Chairman Paul Pearson ___________________ Colorado BLET members are working hard to secure passage of a major rail safety bill in the state’s legislature. BLET Vice President & National Legislative Representative Vince Verna, BLET...
Social media: 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! In 2023, the BLET launched this Weekly News Recap, a quick-hitting list of...
Register now for BLET’s Kansas City regional meeting
Registration is now open for the BLET’s Western Regional Meeting, which will be held in Kansas City, Missouri, the week of June 3, 2024. Guests will stay at the Marriott Kansas City Downtown (200 West 12th St., Kansas City, MO, 65105, telephone: (816) 421-6800)....
Have you registered? Join us this summer for BLET regional meetings in Kansas City and Washington, D.C.
Registration is now open for the BLET’s Western Regional Meeting in Kansas City, Missouri, and the Eastern Regional Meeting in Washington, D.C. Please make your plans now to attend one or both meetings. The Western Regional Meeting will take place the week of June 3...
Autonomous rail technology: BLET petitions FRA to deny safety waiver for Parallel Systems test
The BLET has filed formal comments with the Federal Railroad Administration opposing a safety waiver that would allow the introduction of autonomous train technology in the United States. BLET Vice President & National Legislative Representative Vince Verna said...
Two-person crew regulation: BLET keeps it in notch 8, continues to pursue rail safety reforms as railroads sue to block new safety rule
The Federal Railroad Administration’s two-person crew rule announced earlier this month — which requires railroads to “staff every train operation with a minimum of two crewmembers (including a locomotive engineer and an additional crewmember who will typically be a...
Solar eclipse 2024: Hello darkness, my old friend
On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse moved across North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. As you can see in the photo...
Biden fires Railroad Retirement Board inspector general for creating a hostile work environment
On March 29, President Joe Biden fired Railroad Retirement Board Inspector General Martin Dickman after a year-long investigation found he had created a hostile work environment. According to The Hill, the whistleblower investigation uncovered evidence that Dickman...
NTSB conducting safety culture survey, BLET members encouraged to participate
The National Transportation Safety Board is conducting a confidential survey of the Norfolk Southern workforce to evaluate the railroad’s safety culture. Surveys were sent to all NS craft employees on April 3, and the survey will conclude on April 19. BLET General...
Registration now open for BLET’s Washington D.C. regional meeting
Registration is now open for the BLET’s Eastern Regional Meeting, which will be held in Washington, D.C., the week of July 28, 2024. Guests will stay at the Capital Hilton, 1001 16th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20036, telephone (202) 393-1000. Meeting registration and...
CN/WC: Tentative agreement reached on quality of life improvements
In late March, the BLET reached a tentative agreement for 600 locomotive engineers at the Canadian National/Wisconsin Central Railway. The agreement, which requires ratification by the membership, provides significant quality of life improvements and comes after...
Registration now open for BLET’s Washington D.C. regional meeting
Registration is now open for the BLET’s Eastern Regional Meeting, which will be held in Washington, D.C., the week of July 28, 2024. Guests will stay at the Capital Hilton, 1001 16th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20036, telephone (202) 393-1000. Meeting registration and...
Years in the making: FRA enacts federal two-person crew regulation
Pictured: BLET VP & NLR Vince Verna during a DOT press conference announcing the two-person crew regulation on April 2. In the background, from left, is David Hoagland, President, Washington D.C. Firefighters Association, IAFF, Local 36, and Pete Buttigieg,...
Daily Headlines
U.S. issues rule requiring at least two people on longest freight trains
“Safety improvements have come too slowly to the railroads but it is great to be finally working with an administration that is listening to workers,” said Vince Verna, a vice president at the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
NS calls activist plans a slash-and-burn strategy that would require furloughs
Norfolk Southern today urged shareholders to back its board and management team in its proxy battle, saying that the plans touted by activist investor Ancora Holdings amount to a “slash and burn” strategy that would hurt service and safety.
Freight railroads must keep two person crews, according to new federal regulation
Major freight railroads will have to maintain two-person crews on most routes under a new federal rule that was finalized Tuesday. The Federal Railroad Administration released the details of the rule Tuesday morning, after working on it for the past two years.
Oberman names STB passenger rail advisory committee members
Greg Regan, president, AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department, was appointed to a 3-year term to represent organized labor.
Biden fires RRB inspector general
An investigation found evidence that Martin Dickman created a toxic work environment and engaged in abusive treatment, including using crude and inappropriate language like slurs, and belittling employees.
FRA makes more than $2.4 billion in CRISI grant funding available
CRISI grants advance projects that modernize America’s freight and intercity passenger rail infrastructure, allowing people and goods to move with greater safety, efficiency, and reliability.
BNSF, CPKC say they won’t pay new Minnesota safety fee
BNSF Railway and CPKC, the two largest railroads in Minnesota, do not plan to make payments of approximately $1 million to the state required by a law passed last year.
Railroads scramble to keep freight moving after Baltimore port disruption
When the collapse of Francis Scott Key Bridge disrupted operations at the Port of Baltimore on Tuesday, major railroad carriers kept freight flowing despite the inevitable risk of delays.
Three-train NS crash in Pennsylvania highlights shortcomings of positive train control
None of the circumstances the National Transportation Safety Board described Tuesday in its preliminary report on the March 2 derailment would have triggered the automated positive train control system to stop the trains.
AAR reports rail traffic for the week ending March 23, 2024
For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 470,593 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.1 percent compared with the same week last year.
