BLET News
One-on-one with the ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; Rep. Rick Larsen takes the stage at BLET’s Western Regional Meeting
From left: Rep. Rick Larsen, President Mark Wallace, and First Vice President Gary Best. _____________________ U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA) participated in a one-on-one chat with BLET National President Mark Wallace in front of an audience comprised of more than 300...
President Wallace delivers State of the Union address at BLET’s 2025 Western Regional Meeting
Organizing and facing new technologies are two of the BLET’s top priorities during the months ahead, according to BLET President Mark Wallace as he gave his State of the Union address during the union’s Western Regional Meeting in Bellevue, Washington, on the morning...
BLET promotes rail safety, craft of locomotive engineer at Illinois State Fair
From left: Chad Clayton, LR of Division 644: Jeff Crane, LR of Division 155; Cory Martin, Illinois SLB Chairman; and Todd Knight, LC of Division 155. _____________________ Members of the BLET represented their union and the craft of locomotive engineer at the...
BLET members unanimously ratify first-ever union contract at Arizona Eastern Railway
In a unanimous vote (22-0), members of the BLET ratified their first contract with the Arizona Eastern Railway (AZER). The previously non-union workers voted to join the BLET in June of 2024. The new five-year agreement establishes rights that BLET members working at...
Union Pacific: BLET “vehemently objects” to railroad’s relocation plans for portions of North Platte home terminal
BLET contends that UP's intent to eliminate North Platte as a home terminal is contractually improper. Photo by Cory Rusch, BLET Division 659 ____________________ The BLET is objecting to a proposed plan presented by Union Pacific to relocate the home terminal for...
Take Action Alert: Call the Pennsylvania State Senate and demand a fix to the mass transit funding crisis
The Pennsylvania State Senate has failed to approve funding for public transit funding across the Commonwealth. Unless the Republican-controlled upper chamber passes legislation, substantial budget cuts will hit the Commonwealth’s 53 transit agencies this month. All...
Rail Safety: FRA disbands Rail Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC)
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has disbanded its Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC), an important venue for labor, management, shippers and Federal regulators to collaboratively discuss and develop rules to improve safety in the railroad industry....
THIS IS YOUR STORY TOO… BE SURE TO JOIN US: A Zoom presentation examining BLET’s history will take place on Sunday, August 17
The locomotive “Nashville” of the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati Railroad with a portrait of Abraham Lincoln mounted on the front. The locomotive was one of several used to carry Lincoln’s body from Washington, D.C., to Springfield, Ill. ____________________ The...
California: Locomotive engineers report too many near misses with pedestrians, criticizes UP for slow-walking public trail to Mossbrae Falls
An increasingly popular attraction north of Dunsmuir, California, Mossbrae Falls draws thousands of tourists each year — many of whom trespass on UP tracks to get there, causing daily stress and trauma for BLET locomotive engineers. Photo by Anurag Jajoo...
BLET backs new legislation to expand passenger rail
The BLET is getting on board with the All Aboard Act. Reintroduced in the United States Senate on July 29 by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), the All Aboard Act would dedicate $200 billion over five years to build high-speed rail, expand existing passenger rail service, and...
BLET members ratify new contract with New York & Atlantic
BLET members on August 6 ratified a new two-year agreement with the New York & Atlantic Railway (NY&A). The new contract extension provides a $1.00 per hour increase to all pay grades effective June 1, 2025, followed by two general wage increases totaling...
SEPTA: BLET opposes deep cuts to mass transit in Pennsylvania that will hit this month unless the state senate acts
While the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has approved mass transit funding, the Senate is still a hold out. BLET's Maurice Landon, far right, spoke at an August 6 rally in Philadelphia to urge the Senate to act. Pictured here, from left: Thomas Cleveland, BLET...
BLET members ratify 3% interim raise with Union Pacific
BLET members today ratified an agreement with the Union Pacific Railroad that will provide a one-time general wage increase of 3% to approximately 6,000 BLET members employed at UP. The interim raise will go into effect on September 1, 2025. The interim raise is...
Will railroaders’ safety be compromised? DOGE using AI to eliminate federal regulations
According to a disturbing report from the Washington Post, the so-called U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is using a new artificial intelligence tool to slash federal regulations, with the goal of eliminating half of Washington’s regulatory mandates by...
Crews from Mexico operating trains on UP’s U.S. rails becomes focus of report by CNBC
In a story about the proposed megamerger between Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific, CNBC reported that Union Pacific’s recent move to operate trains with Mexican national crews on rails within the United States could be a stumbling block for UP as it seeks approval...
Educational loans from the BLET’s Greene Fund available to children of members in good standing
All BLET members with adolescent children going on to higher education, whether it be for trade school, associate, bachelor or graduate degrees, please take notice. The Franklin P. Greene Fund, established in 1956, is an educational loan fund set up to assist the...
Washington, D.C.: Herb Harris reelected to fifth term as Chairman of DC SLB
Officers of the DC SLB, from left: Dorian Potts, Secretary-Treasurer; Jeese Flotte, Second Vice Chairman; Kelly Hamrick, Alternate Secretary-Treasurer, Herbert Harris Jr., Chairman; Carlyle Smith, First Vice Chairman; Christopher Edgerton, Trustee; Ryan Merrill, Div....
Attention members at UP, NY&A and AZER: Please call the National Division if you haven’t received your ballot
The BLET has mailed ballots to members at three different railroads — Union Pacific, New York & Atlantic, and Arizona Eastern Railway — for voting on tentative agreements. A hotline number has been established by the BLET National Division for eligible members who...
Children of BLET members awarded Teamster scholarships
The Teamsters Scholarship Fund (TSF) awarded scholarships to 48 children of BLET members for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. The winning BLET families represent all factions of the union, including members who work at passenger and freight lines as well as short...
Obituary: Steam rail enthusiast and honorary BLET member Ross Rowland passes away
Ross Rowland was a rail enthusiast and a champion for the preservation of steam locomotives for decades. He was named an honorary BLET member in the early 1970s. Photo from the BLET archives ____________________ Ross Rowland, one of only 16 lifetime honorary members...
Daily Headlines
June 2025 RRB Q&A: Unemployment and sickness benefits for railroad employees
A new unemployment and sickness benefit year – the twelve-month period during which the RRB makes benefit payments for days of unemployment and sickness to eligible railroad employees – generally begins each July 1 and ends on June 30 of the next year.
CPKC system cutover triggers service woes in some former KCS locations
Localized congestion, delays, and shipper frustrations follow tech switchover in Louisiana, east Texas, and Mississippi
Smuggling arrest raises questions about Mexican crews moving trains into Texas
Some U.S. workers see Mexican crews bringing trains into South Texas as a threat to American jobs and border security.
Parallel Systems begins testing autonomous cars on G&W short line
The pilot program to evaluate Parallel’s self-propelled container car was launched this week on the Heart of Georgia Railroad
Heartland Flyer service in jeopardy after Texas fails to provide funding
State support for Fort Worth-Oklahoma City not included in $338 billion budget bill
Arbitrator in CPKC, TCRC contract dispute awards 3% raises
Retroactive from Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2027, the new contracts include annual wage increases of 3%.
NJ Transit, BLET reach deal to end 3-day strike
The BLET represents 450 New Jersey Transit engineers who drive the agency’s commuter trains.
BNSF reports Q1 2025 results
Net income rose 6.2%, to $1.2 billion.
CPKC says FRA is open to automated and streamlined track and train inspections
Without a waiver from the FRA, railroads cannot simultaneously scale back the required frequency of visual inspections of track and trains where automated systems are deployed.
CPKC reports Q1 2025 results
Revenues were $3.8 billion in Q1 2025, up from $3.5 billion in Q1 2024.
