BLET News
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....
Union Pacific: BLET holds carrier accountable for not living up to promises made in quality of life agreement
As a result of an agreement reached with BLET last year, BLET’s engineers employed at Union Pacific are supposed to be working under a negotiated schedule that provides for a four-day rest period after 11 days on the job. But the railroad has been slow to honor its...
Reminder to 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 national election on November 5. Their list of candidates for federal office will be published in an upcoming issue of the...
Railroad Retirement Board urges you to review Form BA-6
The Railroad Retirement Board routinely publishes important news of interest to active and retired BLET members. Here is a summary of highlights published in Summer 2024. • Each year the RRB prepares a Form BA-6, Certificate of Service Months and Compensation, for...
BLET Safety Task Force: Three major derailments in July are under investigation
July was a busy month for the BLET’s Safety Task Force (STF). The BLET has received party status from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to assist with investigations into three serious incidents: a BNSF hazmat derailment and fire in Carrington, N.D.; a...
Triennial Election refresher training classes are available in advance of next month’s Division nomination meetings
The BLET Education & Training Department is offering online training to help BLET Divisions prepare for the upcoming round of Triennial Elections, which are only a few weeks away. Nominations will be held at each Division’s first regular meeting in September of...
NJ Transit: BLET makes a strong case at hearing before PEB 251
The BLET made a strong case on behalf of its members as PEB 251 held formal hearings last week in the contract dispute between BLET and New Jersey Transit. NJT’s locomotive engineers have been seeking a new labor agreement since October 2019. NJT’s engineers are the...
BLET Eastern Regional Meeting: Highlight video features key speakers, major themes
The BLET National Division has prepared a video featuring highlights from several speakers at the union’s Eastern Regional Meeting last week in Washington D.C. The 8-minute video features the meeting’s opening ceremony and includes messages from U.S. Senator Bernie...
Keep up the pressure: Tell Congress to fully fund Railroad Retirement
BLET is continuing to urge its members and their families to tell their legislators in the U.S. House of Representatives to fully fund the Railroad Retirement Board. As reported previously, budget cuts that would be catastrophic for the RRB are now under consideration...
BLET Eastern Regional Meeting in Washington D.C.: Speaker highlight – Robert Primus
Robert Primus, Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board, said rail labor is a major part of the economic success of America’s freight railroad system. He recognized and thanked railroad workers for keeping the nation’s supply chain moving during his presentation...
BLET Eastern Regional Meeting in Washington D.C.: Speaker highlight – Amit Bose
The head of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) encouraged BLET members to get on board as the FRA continues to advocate for safety in the railroad industry. Speaking at the BLET’s Eastern Regional Meeting in Washington D.C. on July 30, FRA Administrator Amit...
Senator Cantwell wants answers after UP undermines FRA safety culture survey
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, is looking for answers from the Union Pacific after the Federal Railroad Administration was forced to cancel a safety culture survey at the railroad. FRA launched the...
BLET scores organizing victory at COASTER
BLET National President Eddie Hall officially welcomed 36 new members into the BLET family today. Train and engine service employees with commuter railroad COASTER voted to join the union in an election certified by the National Mediation Board earlier this afternoon.
BLET Eastern Regional Meeting in Washington D.C.: Speaker highlight – Sara Nelson
Sara Nelson, International President of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA/CWA), energized the BLET crowd during opening ceremonies of the union’s Eastern Regional Meeting in Washington D.C. on July 30. Like the BLET, the AFA is governed by the Railway Labor...
CSX derailment in Niagara Falls the latest in string of remote control related accidents
The BLET obtained this drone footage showing the aftermath of a July 22 CSX remote control derailment in Niagara Falls, N.Y. ____________________ A CSX locomotive derailed in upstate New York on July 22, the latest in an alarming string of derailments involving...
BLET Eastern Regional Meeting in Washington D.C.: Speaker highlight – Rep. James Clyburn
U.S. Representative James E. Clyburn’s eloquent speech was a highlight of the BLET’s Eastern Regional Meeting in Washington D.C. on July 30. The legendary Democrat from South Carolina spoke about his background of fighting for Civil Rights and the need for unity to...
Bernie Sanders condemns railroad corporate greed in speech to BLET/Teamster Members
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) called out America’s railroad industry for putting profits over safety in his address to more than 300 members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) in Washington D.C. on July 29. “Nobody in America...
House hearing focuses on bipartisan Railroad Safety Enhancement Act
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy (left) and FRA Administrator Amit Bose testified during the July 23 hearing. T&I Committee images ____________________ A BLET-backed rail safety bill was the focus of a hearing before the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and...
Senator Bernie Sanders to address BLET members on July 29
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) will address BLET members during a welcome reception at the union’s Eastern Regional Meeting in Washington, D.C., on Monday, July 29. If time permits, the Senator plans to engage in a question and answer session. Senator Sanders...
Operation RedBlock reaches 40-year milestone anniversary
Over the last four decades, Operation RedBlock has proven essential, especially given the highly unpredictable nature of employee schedules in the rail industry. ____________________ The railroad industry’s leading peer-based substance abuse prevention program turns...
Daily Headlines
U.S. finalizes rule requiring two-person crews on freight trains
The Biden administration announced on Tuesday that it had finalized a new rule that will require the nation’s largest freight railroads to maintain their current staffing of two crew members per train, settling a contentious issue between organized labor and the industry.
TCRC calls for strike authorization vote by CN, CPKC train crews
Leaders of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference told their members on Thursday that a strike vote will be held from April 8 to May 1. If the rank and file vote to authorize a strike, the earliest a walkout or lockout could occur on CN and CPKC in Canada is May 22.
OIG: FRA lacks needed oversight of fatigue management
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) recently found that the Federal Railroad Administration needs to improve its oversight of procedures related to railroad hours of service (HOS) compliance and railroad fatigue management requirements.
EPA didn’t declare a public health emergency after East Palestine derailment
The aftermath of last year’s fiery train derailment in eastern Ohio doesn’t qualify as a public health emergency because widespread health problems and ongoing chemical exposures haven’t been documented, federal officials said.
CSX rerouting traffic to avoid Port of Baltimore after bridge collapse
CSX is starting a new dedicated freight rail service between Baltimore and New York for its clients on Tuesday to help mitigate the trade disruption as a result of the closure of the Port of Baltimore after the cargo vessel Dali collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge leading to its collapse on March 26.
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.
