BLET News
BLET calls for FRA to examine root cause of Amtrak’s ongoing loss of shunt problem
The BLET opposes the installation of shunt enhancer antennas on Amtrak's fleet of Siemens Charger locomotives. Photo by David Estes ____________________ The BLET has filed written comments with the Federal Railroad Administration to oppose Amtrak’s request for a...
Philadelphia: BLET reaches tentative agreement with SEPTA
The BLET has reached a tentative contract with SEPTA, and ballots were mailed today to eligible members who operate regional rail trains for the transit agency. The tentative three-year contract would run from March 3, 2023 to March 2, 2026. Among other gains, the...
BLET cites PSR and corporate greed as NTSB issues final report on East Palestine derailment
These Brothers represented BLET at the NTSB board meeting in East Palestine on June 25 (from left): Director of Political Affairs Brendan Sullivan; National VP & NLR Vince Verna; National VP and STF Chairman Randy Fannon, STF National Coordinator Brian Fransen,...
Pharmacy benefit manager to change for BLET members beginning in 2025
All individuals under the National Railroad Health and Welfare (GA-23000) Plan will have their Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) changed effective January 1, 2025. The Plans will switch from Express Scripts, Inc. to Optum Rx. All covered members, eligible spouses and...
Spradlin reelected KCS General Chairman
David Spradlin (front row, 2nd from left) was reelected GC of the Kansas City Southern GCA at their quadrennial meeting this week. ___________________ David Spradlin was reelected as Chairman during the Kansas City Southern / Louisiana & Arkansas Railway General...
Chicago, Fort Wayne & Eastern: BLET members vote to ratify tentative agreement
BLET members have voted to ratify a tentative contract agreement with the Chicago, Fort Wayne & Eastern Railroad (CF&E). This on-property agreement will govern rates of pay, benefits and work rules for 45 operating employees. The five-year deal will run...
William Wallace elected new Chairman of UP-Western Region GCA as Leyshon retires
Newly elected GC William Wallace (front row, center) with members at the UP-Western Region GCA quadrennial meeting. He replaces the retiring Steve Leyshon (front row, 2nd from left). __________________ William Wallace of BLET Division 362 was elected as the new...
Message to the Membership: From President Eddie Hall on the 2024 Eastern Regional Meeting
Brothers and Sisters, I want to express my gratitude following the Western Regional Meeting in Kansas City and thank everyone who attended. You all are the Union, and I was delighted to host the meeting. I want to invite you and your families to our Eastern Regional...
A strike can happen at NJ Transit as soon as July 25
30-day “cooling-off” period begins today as NMB releases BLET from mediation Today, the National Mediation Board (NMB), the federal agency that regulates labor relations for railroads and airlines, has granted release to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and...
California: BLET reaches tentative agreement with PHL
The BLET has reached a tentative contract with the Pacific Harbor Line (PHL). Ballots for a vote on a tentative agreement governing rates of pay for approximately 150 members were mailed on Friday, June 21. If ratified by the membership, the agreement would run...
East Palestine: NTSB to announce final findings, probable cause, and recommendations
On Tuesday, June 25, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will hold a public meeting regarding the 2023 East Palestine train derailment and subsequent hazardous material release and fires. During the hearing, NTSB board members will vote on the findings,...
Minnesota: BLET will now have a seat at the table on governor’s Freight Rail Council
Governor Tim Walz (front row, blue tie) was the guest of honor at the Minnesota SLB quadrennial meeting in 2023. He recently named Chairman Joel Mueller (front row, center) to the governor's Freight Rail Council. _____________________ Minnesota lawmakers adopted two...
Deluzio appointed to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, pictured here at a recent roundtable discussion on rail safety, had many constituents in his Pennsylvania district affected by the derailment in East Palestine. ______________________ U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA) has been appointed to the...
Wyoming: BLET Division 103 marks 155th anniversary
Division 103 members pose with their original charter which they presented to the Wyoming State Archives. ____________________ BLET Division 103 is celebrating its 155th anniversary. The Division is the oldest, still active union in the state of Wyoming. It was...
Evans reelected General Chairman of CN-IC GCA
Newly reelected GC Billy Evans (front row, center) with the members of the CN-IC GCA. ____________________ William (Billy) Evans was reelected to his third term of office as General Chairman of the BLET’s CN-IC General Committee of Adjustment at the GCA’s quadrennial...
Study finds that derailment risk increases as trains get longer
A recent academic study by researchers from Brigham Young University, Georgetown University, and Virginia Tech found that the risk of derailment increases with train length. The study, which analyzed FRA data from 2013-2022, found that a 200-car freight train is 24%...
Obituary: Retired BLET General Chairman Tony Smith
Retired BLET General Chairman Tony Smith, who served the CSXT Eastern Lines GCA for 22 years, passed away on June 15, 2024. He was 71 years old. He is survived by his wife Ann, sons Bryant and Anthony and grandson Sam. Tony and Ann were married for 48 years. Brother...
Indiana Harbor Belt: BLET Members show solidarity amid attempted raid
BLET Division 682 members working at the Indiana Harbor Belt (IHB) have been dealing with a raid from SMART-TD, which has been acting increasingly desperate due to continued membership losses. On June 12, at Hammond, IN, nearly 50 BLET members and officers gathered...
Organizing win in Arizona: Railroaders abandoned by SMART-TD vote to join the BLET
The Arizona Eastern Railway (AZER) train and engine service employees have voted to join the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), becoming the newest members of BLET, the nation’s oldest union. The election was certified on June 13 by the National...
Missouri’s elected leaders discuss need for rail safety after East Palestine
Missouri State Representatives Robert Sauls (front row, 3rd from left) and Patty Lewis (front row, 4th from left) with BLET members from Missouri. _____________________ Elected government leaders from the State of Missouri addressed BLET members during the Western...
Daily Headlines
NS to name new chief operating officer amid proxy battle
Amid a proxy fight with an activist investor, Norfolk Southern on Wednesday will name Canadian Pacific Kansas City executive John Orr as its chief operating officer.
President Biden nominates Homendy to continue as NTSB chair
President Joe Biden recently announced his intention to nominate Jennifer Homendy as the continuing chair of the National Transportation Safety Board.
Members of American Train Dispatcher Association protest at opening of CPKC stadium
The American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA) staged a protest outside the match at the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Stadium. ATDA shared its frustrations with CPKC sharing they are refusing to provide paid sick leave for employees.
STB to UP: Employment data must be public; Ancora responds to Oberman’s criticism
The Surface Transportation Board denied Union Pacific Railroad’s request to keep certain required, temporary employment-data reporting confidential.
Berkshire boosts pay of Warren Buffett successor to $20 million
Berkshire Hathaway said Warren Buffett raised the pay of his designated successor Greg Abel to $20 million last year, as the conglomerate posted a record operating profit.
A year after CPKC merger, Chicago-area mayors see more frequent and longer trains
One year into a hotly contested railroad merger, suburban leaders report lengthy and more frequent freight trains, and they’re preparing for a future deluge.
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.
