BLET News
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 —...
Freight railroads oppose shareholder resolutions creating safety committees
As publicly traded railroad corporations held their annual meetings this week, the BLET criticized railroad management for opposing safety reforms that would improve railroad operations for both workers and the communities that the railroads serve. “This week, CSX,...
CN-IC, Iowa Northern: Ballots mailed in tentative implementing agreement
Ballots were mailed last week to BLET members to vote on a tentative implementing agreement regarding Canadian National-Illinois Central Railway’s (CN-IC) acquisition of the Iowa Northern Railway. Ballots were mailed to about 550 members. The tentative implementing...
Scott Bunten reelected NS Eastern Lines General Chairman
Brother Scott Bunten (fourth from right) with members, both in-person and virtual, of the NS Eastern Lines GCA at their quadrennial meeting in late April. ____________________ General Chairman Scott R. Bunten was reelected at the quadrennial meeting of the NS Eastern...
Canadian National/Wisconsin Central: BLET Divisions unanimously vote yes on new quality of life agreement
Nine Canadian National/Wisconsin Central (CN/WC) divisions that comprise the GCA voted unanimously April 24 that in favor of a new quality of life agreement that covers roughly 600 locomotive engineers. General Chairman Eric Hau said the goal was “to attract, retain,...
161st anniversary: BLET was founded on May 8, 1863
1896 BLE Convention in Ottawa, Ontario ____________________ On May 8, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) marks its 161st anniversary. The BLET and its members are proud of our heritage as the oldest labor union in North America. Our union was...
Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry turns his back on railroad workers, co-sponsors legislation to nullify new two-person crew regulation
Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District has been rated as one of the most competitive in the nation during this election year, but the incumbent seeking reelection, U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), must not care about the votes of union railroaders. Perry, along with...
Capitol Hill: BLET mourns passing of Rep. Payne
From left: National President Eddie Hall, Rep. Donald Payne Jr., VP & NLR Vince Verna and National S-T David Estes at a BLET Legislative Rep. training class in 2023. ____________________ Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr. (D-NJ), a staunch advocate for rail safety who...
North Dakota: Forschen reelected State Legislative Board Chairman
From left: Darin Hamre, Vince Verna, Sean Forschen, Dave Harness, and Tim Presler. ____________________ Brother Sean M. Forschen was elected to his second term as Chairman of the BLET’s North Dakota State Legislative Board during its quadrennial meeting in Bismarck,...
BLET Legislative Alert: Calling all Colorado and Minnesota members to Take Action!
BLET members in Colorado and Minnesota are urged to get involved and help advance rail safety legislation in their respective states. In Colorado, members should immediately contact their State Senators to request their support of railroad safety bill HB24-1030. The...
GCA news: Chris Hyde reelected CSXT Eastern Lines General Chairman
General Chairman Chris R. Hyde was reelected at the quadrennial meeting of the CSXT Eastern Lines General Committee of Adjustment, which was held via Zoom on April 21, 2024. Brother Hyde began serving as General Chairman on January 1, 2023, following the election of...
GCA news: Hau reelected to second term as CN-WC General Chairman
Brother Eric A. Hau was reelected General Chairman at the Canadian National-Wisconsin Central General Committee of Adjustment’s quadrennial meeting on April 16 in Appleton, Wisc. He was first elected General Chairman of the CN-WC GCA at its quadrennial meeting in...
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,...
Daily Headlines
Latest freight railroad layoffs and Wall Street pressure renew concerns about safety and service
The latest rail layoffs this week, combined with an investment fund’s ongoing campaign for control of Norfolk Southern, are renewing concerns among unions and regulators about the effects all the cuts might have on safety and service.
Mass furloughs reported at BNSF operations in 4 states
The furloughs were announced Tuesday, with 362 workers reportedly losing their jobs, according to the Transportation Trades Department (TTD) with the AFL-CIO.
Rail safety bill heads to governor’s desk in Virginia
As the federal government considers requiring two crew members on all trains, similar legislation to increase rail safety statewide passed both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly.
Misreporting masks true scale of rail suicides in U.S., experts claim
High-profile train derailments may capture public attention, but a more silent crisis looms over America’s railroads, with suicides potentially constituting the majority of fatalities, a revelation that suggests a significant underreporting issue.
FRA raises red flag over worker furloughs at UP
Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Amit Bose yesterday told Union Pacific Railroad CEO Jim Vena that the company’s furloughs of maintenance of equipment (MoE) workers jeopardizes the safety of railroad workers and the public.
Following furloughs, rail workers demand immediate federal safety inspections of BNSF locomotives and rail cars
Shop Craft Unions at the BNSF Railway are urgently calling upon the FRA to initiate unannounced focus inspections on all locomotives and rail cars owned and leased by BNSF Railway, and immediately issue non-compliance orders requiring BNSF to fix all found defects before being permitted to use such equipment, citing concerns over numerous defects that are allegedly being ignored and neglected by BNSF management.
Analysis: Rail industry’s future hinges on outcome of proxy fight at Norfolk Southern
The proxy battle that activist investor Ancora Holdings is waging against Norfolk Southern isn’t just about the direction NS should take and who should run the company. It’s a fight for the future of the railroad industry.
STB chairman rips activist investors for threatening viability of railroad industry
The activist investors targeting Norfolk Southern pose a threat to the railroad industry and the U.S. economy and may prompt new regulations, outgoing Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin J. Oberman told a shipper conference on February 29.
Amid proxy battle, NS CEO notes support from rail labor, customers, regulators
NS CEO Alan Shaw said that customers, other railroads, regulators, and rail labor all support the NS “better way forward” strategy.
Biden Administration announces $9.8 billion to bolster public transit agencies
In a significant move that underscores the Biden administration’s commitment to revamping the United States’ infrastructure, a whopping $9.8 billion in federal funds has been earmarked to support public transit agencies.
