BLET News
Registration open for Legislative Representative training class, June 5-9, 2023
The BLET Education & Training Department, in conjunction with the National Legislative Office, will conduct a class for BLET Division Legislative Representatives in Washington, D.C., from June 5-9, 2023.
BLET members ratify Springfield Terminal implementing agreement
The Implementing Agreement addresses changes in operations resulting from the transaction and applies protective conditions. In addition, the implementing agreement sets forth the process to divide the workforce between Springfield Terminal (ST) and Berkshire and Eastern (B&E) and defines the limits of the railroads after the Change Over Date.
BLET members ratify new contract with CP Rail/Soo Line
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) today ratified a new five-year agreement with the CP Rail/Soo Line Railroad.
Funeral arrangements for fallen Brother Lou Shuster
Services for late BLET member Louis P. Shuster will be held next week.
In The Line of Duty: BLET Division 607 President Louis P. Shuster
Louis P. Shuster, a proud member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), employed as a Norfolk Southern conductor, was struck and killed early Tuesday when a dump truck collided with a train car in Cleveland.
BLET resumes in-person training classes; Will host Legislative Rep training in June
Class is back in session for members and officers of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET). After a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the BLET returned to in-person workshops last week with several days of intensive training for Secretary-Treasurers.
BLET members unanimously ratify new contract with Union Railroad
Today, members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) unanimously ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with the Union Railroad of Pittsburgh, Pa.
BLET members ratify DM&E, KCS implementing agreement
The agreement will only become effective should the Surface Transportation Board (STB) decide to allow the merger of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) and KCS Railroads.
Locomotive engineers are onboard for the bipartisan Rail Safety Act of 2023
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, March 3 — A bipartisan bill introduced on March 1 by three Republican and three Democratic senators is designed to toughen safety standards on America’s railroads. “Right now our nation’s railroads largely self-regulate,” said Brotherhood of...
Two-person crew bill advances in New Mexico
The New Mexico House of Representatives passed a two-person crew railroad safety bill earlier this month, thanks in part to cooperative efforts from the BLET’s New Mexico State Legislative Board and the New Mexico Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO.
Comprehensive resource guide now available for all BLET members covered under the National Health & Welfare Plan
A new comprehensive resource guide outlining benefits under the Railroad National Health & Welfare Plan (GA-23000) is now available.
BLET President Hall statement on NTSB’s preliminary report on the East Palestine derailment
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen has been assisting the National Transportation Safety Board in its investigation of the recent derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. That work will continue. Our agreement with the NTSB limits some of what we can say today, I don’t want to speculate on the causes of the derailment in East Palestine, but I do want to emphasize a couple of items that were not raised in the preliminary report or discussed in today’s press conference.
BLET President Hall responds to rail safety recommendations proposed today by U.S. Transportation Secretary Buttigieg
The following statement is from BLET National President Eddie Hall in response to recommendations released today by U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg:
BLET’s Springfield Terminal members to vote on implementing agreement
The tentative Implementing Agreement addresses changes in operations resulting from the transaction and applies protective conditions.
RRB announces Spring 2023 Pre-Retirement Seminars
The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has announced its schedule of Pre-Retirement Seminars for Spring 2023.
BLET members ratify new contract with Illinois Railway
Today, members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) unanimously ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with the Illinois Railway.
Rail Labor joins Senators Sanders and Braun to demand paid sick leave
Rail Labor representatives joined Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Senator Mike Braun (R-Indiana) at a press conference in Washington D.C. on February 9 to demand that rail companies provide workers with at least seven paid sick days.
Ballots mailed in tentative BLET, CP Rail/SOO Line tentative agreement
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative contract agreement with the CP Rail/SOO Line Railroad. Ballots were mailed today, February 9.
Ballots mailed to BLET members in tentative DM&E, KCS implementing agreement
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative implementing agreement with the Kansas City Southern (KCS) and Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern (DM&E) Railroads. Ballots were mailed earlier today, February 8, to locomotive engineers employed by the DM&E, active members in Division 527 employed by the KCS, and Gateway Western Railroad members who are eligible to participate.
Ballots mailed in tentative BLET, Union Railroad agreement
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative contract agreement with the Union Railroad in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Daily Headlines
House T&I Committee reviews freight rail hazards
The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials met on January 18 to discuss the oversight of railroad grade crossing elimination and safety issues.
STB seeks answers for delay on Gulf Coast settlement
The Surface Transportation Board has called for Amtrak, CSX, Norfolk Southern, and the Port of Mobile, Ala., to provide “detailed information regarding the status of the implementation of the settlement agreement” agreed to in November 2022 to allow Amtrak service to begin between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala. — and scheduled a February hearing to address the matter.
California high-speed rail sparks billions in economic benefit
New data released by the California High-Speed Rail Authority shows investments in this first-in-the-nation project are continuing to provide billions in economic benefit to the state.
The sad but important story of Lincoln’s funeral train procession
He was transported by train over a route that mimicked an important trip during the president’s life — his inaugural journey.
Rail CEOs believe conditions are better headed into next round of labor negotiations
A lot has happened, since Class I railroads averted a strike in 2022. CEOs and other officials at the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers Winter Meeting were happy to point to progress in labor relations.
North American rail volume down through Week 2 of 2024
Through the first two weeks of 2024 (ending Jan. 13), total North American carload and intermodal traffic was down 1.5% from the same point last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Jan. 17.
FRA seeks public comment on proposed autonomous railcar test program
The Federal Railroad Administration is seeking public comments on Genesee & Wyoming short lines’ request to test Parallel Systems autonomous, self-propelled battery-electric freight cars.
Podcast: STB’s Oberman takes railroads to task on service
Appropriate staffing levels will be critical for the railroad industry to make further progress at improving service levels, especially as volumes appear poised for growth this year.
How the CP-KCS merger has shaken up the industry
Last year’s merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern, the two smallest Class I systems, has turned out to be the little spark that has ignited a lot of railroad competition.
Tense moments, but no disaster, after train stalls on CPKC’s Rutledge Hill in Iowa
After a few tense minutes, the BNSF train cleared the diamond and the CPKC crew was able to bring Kansas City-St. Paul train 251 to a stop just 20 feet from the diamond.
