BLET News
Explosive New York Times investigative report exposes dangers of remote control operations
The BLET questions the safety of remote control train operations and demands safety reforms in a sweeping investigative report published by the New York Times on May 27 (via Yahoo, no subscription necessary). This major news story with national implications came about...
FRA: Certification standards will be required for train dispatchers and signalmen
On May 20, the FRA published two final rules that will require railroads to develop certification standards and training programs for train dispatchers and signal workers. Unlike locomotive engineers, there have previously been no federal regulations mandating...
Amtrak: BLET helps kick off new Borealis service from St. Paul to Chicago
From left: Joel Mueller, BLET Minnesota SLB Chairman, Riley Richmond, BLET Division 27, and Chad Roehrich, BLET Midwest Regional Chairman-Amtrak GCA. _____________________ BLET member Riley Richmond worked as the locomotive engineer on the inaugural run of Amtrak’s...
On the Right Track: 2024 Triennial Election manual now online
The 2024 edition of “On the Right Track,” the Local Division nomination and election procedure manual, is now available for download from the Members’ Area of the BLET website and in the Document Library in UnionTrack. Copies were also mailed to Division Presidents,...
Teamsters Rail Conference: Mike Smith appointed new Director
Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien has appointed Mike Smith to serve as the new Director of the Teamsters Rail Conference. Leaders of the BLET and BMWED were introduced to Brother Smith at a Rail Policy Committee meeting in Washington D.C. in May. In 2015, Smith...
Ohio: Trespasser incidents take a toll, NST Estes says
In an interview with Ohio’s Dayton Daily News, BLET National Secretary-Treasurer David Estes discussed the psychological trauma that locomotive engineers endure when they are involved in fatal pedestrian or vehicle incidents. It is an all-too-familiar scenario for...
Jerry Sturdivant reelected General Chairman of NS-Southern Lines GCA
General Chairman Jerry G. Sturdivant, Division 110, (Ludlow, Ky.), was reelected at the Norfolk Southern-Southern Lines GCA’s quadrennial meeting in Florence, Kentucky, on May 21, 2024. This is his third term of office. The Norfolk Southern-Southern Lines GCA...
Logan reelected General Chairman of UP-Southern Region GCA
Officers and guests at the Union Pacific-Southern Region GCA's quadrennial meeting on May 20. ____________________ James Logan Jr. of BLET Division 620 (Fort Worth, Texas) was reelected by acclamation to the office of General Chairman at the Union Pacific-Southern...
Iowa: Vote now to help daughter of BLET member in the Doodle for Google national competition
BLET Division 6 member Bryce A. Grail with his daughter Ella and her national finalist art piece. Vote for her at the link below! ____________________ The talented daughter of a BLET member could soon have her art on the Google homepage for hundreds of millions to...
Railroad Retirement Board Q&As: Providing answers to your important retirement questions
Many railroaders know that they can retire at age 60 with 30 years of service because of the Railroad Retirement Act. But did you know that if you do, you may need to increase your tax withholding when you turn 62? That’s one of the many important retirement topics...
Texas: Defending democracy in the Lone Star state
From left: Brother Piekarski, Brother Wright, U.S. Rep. Raskin (D-Md.), and Brother Dondero. ____________________ Members of the BLET’s Texas State Legislative Board (TXSLB) participated in a “Defend Democracy” dinner hosted by the Lone Star Project in Dallas on May...
Chicago: BLET reaches tentative agreement with CF&E
The BLET has reached a tentative contract with the Chicago, Fort Wayne & Eastern Railroad (CFE). Ballots were mailed this week to members to vote on a tentative on-property agreement governing rates of pay, benefits and work rules for approximately 45 operating...
The White House: Top BLET officers in Washington D.C.
From left: Kyle Bagby, Trustee; Vince Verna, VP & NLR; Pat Driscoll, Trustee; Billy Lyons, VP; Randy Fannon, VP; Gary Best, VP; Eddie Hall, National President; Mark Wallace, First VP; Dave Estes, National S-T; Rick Gibbons, VP; and Dick Crow, Trustee....
Have you registered? Join us for the BLET’s Eastern Regional meeting in Washington, D.C.
BLET members are encouraged to make their reservations soon for the Eastern Regional Meeting, which will be held the week of July 29 in Washington, D.C. Hotel room reservations must be made by July 1, 2024. The meeting will be held at the Capital Hilton, 1001 16th...
Jennifer Homendy is confirmed by U.S. Senate, will continue serving as Chair of NTSB
Chair Homendy at the BLET's 2023 Eastern Regional Meeting. ____________________ On May 14, the U.S. Senate unanimously voted to confirm Jennifer Homendy to another five-year term with the National Transportation Safety Board, including another three-year term as...
Robert E. Primus is new Chairman of Surface Transportation Board
At the 2023 BLET Western Regional Meeting, from left: Eddie Hall, BLET President; Robert Primus, STB; Mark Wallace, First VP; and Dave Estes, National S-T. ____________________ On May 11, President Biden named Robert Primus as the new Chairman of the Surface...
Rhode Island: State Senate unanimously passes two-person crew bill
On May 7, the Rhode Island State Senate unanimously advanced a rail safety bill by a vote of 37-0. The bill, 2024–S 2736, would require two-person train crews. BLET New England Legislative Board Chairman Dan Cadogan said lobbying efforts will now begin to secure...
Education & Training: General Chairman Workshop
This week, the BLET Education & Training Department hosted a hybrid training workshop for General Chairmen at the National Division headquarters in Independence, Ohio. The class focused on the role and duties of a General Chairman, including topics such as...
Victory in Colorado! Governor signs BLET-backed rail safety bill
Colorado’s BLET-backed railroad safety bill, HB24-1030, was approved by the State Senate on May 8 and is on its way to the desk of Governor Jared Polis to be signed into law. He signed the bill on May 10. Paul Pearson, BLET Colorado State Legislative Board Chairman,...
Norfolk Southern: Shareholders make split decision in proxy battle fight
It was a split decision on May 9 as Norfolk Southern shareholders elected some board nominees from hedge fund Ancora Holdings to the railroad’s board of directors, but not enough to unseat current CEO Alan Shaw. The three BLET General Chairmen at Norfolk Southern —...
Daily Headlines
Ancora’s safety white paper can’t withstand a simple fact check: Analysis
Ancora is stuck on the misinformation highway with a safety white paper that makes several claims that can’t hold up to scrutiny.
Judge allows East Palestine residents lawsuit against Norfolk Southern to proceed
A class action suit accusing Norfolk Southern of negligence over the train derailment that released toxic chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio, last year can go forward, a federal judge determined Wednesday.
AAR reports rail traffic for the week ending March 9, 2024
Total carloads for the week ending March 9 were 214,585 carloads, down 3.7 percent compared with the same week in 2023, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 258,077 containers and trailers, up 13.5 percent compared to 2023.
Union Pacific CEO defends safety practices without mentioning key critic
Jim Vena’s opening remarks Wednesday at the J.P. Morgan 2024 Industrials Conference could easily be seen as a rebuttal to one man: Amit Bose, the chairman of the Federal Railroad Administration.
Buttigieg scolds railroads for not doing more to improve safety since East Palestine
In a new letter to the freight railroads’ main trade group, Buttigieg said too often regulators encounter resistance when trying to get the industry to do more to improve safety.
BNSF eliminates management jobs amid uncertain freight outlook
BNSF Railway eliminated several hundred management positions at its headquarters and across the system last week as part of a belt-tightening move.
Are railroad layoffs compromising safety and service?
Recent layoffs by Class 1 railroads Union Pacific (UP) and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) have not only raised alarms that safety may be compromised but shippers are complaining service has been poor. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently weighed in.
Va. governor vetoes bill requiring two crew members on trains
Virginia’s legislative effort to require two crew members on all trains died after the governor vetoed the legislation on Friday.
Bill to end cuts to railroad unemployment insurance advances in Senate
The Senate Budget Committee has unanimously voted to advance a bill that would permanently exempt railroad workers’ unemployment and sickness insurance benefits from sequestration cuts, and end current cuts.
More BNSF employees laid off in Lincoln in second round of furloughs
More BNSF workers in Lincoln may have lost their jobs after another round of furloughs were announced. At least 10 conductors were set to be furloughed from their positions in Lincoln on Wednesday.
