BLET News
Ballots mailed in tentative CSXT-Springfield Terminal implementing agreement
Ballots are in the mail to members of BLET Divisions 72 and 191 to vote on a tentative implementing agreement regarding CSX Transportation’s acquisition of the Springfield Terminal Railway (a Pan Am Railway affiliate). The agreement will govern about 30 BLET members....
Refresher sessions via Zoom help S-Ts with end-of-year reporting and Bylaws compliance
Megan Mead, the BLET's Director of Records and Compliance, interacts with Secretary-Treasurers during a Zoom refresher session this week. ____________________ The BLET Education & Training Department conducted several Zoom training sessions over a three-day period...
FRA announces $8.2 billion in new grants for passenger rail
On December 8, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced it has awarded $8.2 billion for 10 passenger rail projects across the United States. The FRA also announced rail corridor planning activities that will impact every region of the nation. This...
James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund now accepting applications
BLET members and their families are advised that the James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund has begun accepting applications for the 2024 award year. The Fund awards financial scholarships to the sons, daughters and financial dependents of Teamster members...
New York: Governor Hochul signs two-person crew bill
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a railroad safety bill into law this week, mandating that two-person train crews operate all hazardous materials trains throughout the state. New York joins Ohio and Kansas as the third state in 2023 to adopt train crew safety...
HBO comedy show Last Week Tonight shines a spotlight on railroad safety and deregulation
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, HBO’s weekly late-night television program which takes a satirical look at news and current events, devoted all of its most recent broadcast to “freight trains.” Prior to the episode premiering on Sunday, December 10, BLET...
In memoriam: Former Arkansas State Legislative Board Chairman Terry Todd, 1957-2023
Brother Todd and his wife Jane at the 2014 Southwestern Convention Meeting in St. Louis, Mo. ____________________ Brother Terry L. Todd, long-serving Chairman of the BLET’s Arkansas State Legislative Board, passed away on December 10, 2023. He was 65 years old....
Chicago: Ballots are in the mail for tentative Chicago, Fort Wayne & Eastern agreement
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...
Oregon: Ballots are in the mail for tentative Portland & Western agreement
A contract ratification vote is underway for BLET members at the Portland & Western Railroad (PNWR). 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 55...
CPKC Holiday Train makes annual trip
The CPKC Holiday Train tours Canada and the United States each year, raising money, food, and awareness for the important work that food banks do in their communities. Professional musicians play free concerts from the brightly decorated train’s stage. CPKC makes a...
BLET Advisory Board: Wrapping up 2023, planning ahead for 2024
BLET Advisory Board at National Division headquarters on December 6, 2023, from left: G.D. Best, VP; P.M. Semenek, VP; J.P. Louis, VP; J.A. Holdcraft, VP; P.T. Driscoll, Trustee; D.P. Estes, NST; E.A. Hall, National President; M.L. Wallace, First VP; R.C. Gibbons, VP;...
CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs: “We make it miserable for a lot of people”
CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs recently discussed how poorly Class I railroads treat their employees. Photo: courtesy Eric Williams _____________________ In November, CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs spoke at a conference for investors and other rail industry stakeholders. As reported...
BLET National Legislative Board: Setting the agenda for 2024
National Legislative Board's 2023 annual meeting, from left: Cory Runion, Region 4; Brendan Sullivan, Director of Political Affairs; Herb Harris, Region 1; B.J. Trumble, Region 3; Vince Verna, VP & NLR; Eddie Hall, National President; Mark Wallace, First Vice...
BLET members ratify new collective bargaining agreement with Amtrak
Earlier today, BLET members ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with Amtrak. The new seven-year agreement was approved by a 550-479 vote of the 1,029 (73%) ballots cast. The contract governs locomotive engineers who operate Amtrak’s passenger and commuter...
GA-46000 Lifetime maximum adjusted for 2024
The lifetime maximum benefit for the Railroad Employees National Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit Plan (also known as ERMA or GA-46000) will increase from $188,000 to $195,100 on January 1, 2024. At the end of 2001, Labor and Management agreed on various...
BLET members ratify agreement with Keolis Rail Services Virginia
The agreement with Keolis governs rates of pay and health care benefits for locomotive engineers who operate trains for Virginia Railway Express. Photo: courtesy of VRE ____________________ On November 29, BLET members ratified a new five-year contract with Keolis...
New Jersey: BLET testifies in favor of rail safety bill at Senate hearing
From left: BLET’s Andrew Arias, NJ State Senator Patrick Diegnan, and BLET’s Ray Vigil at the New Jersey State Senate’s hearing to consider a rail safety bill on November 27, 2023. ____________________ Members of the BLET’s New Jersey State Legislative Board (NJ SLB)...
TTD urges Senate to act on NMB nominees
In a November 21 letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, urged the Senate to “expeditiously” schedule a floor vote on the reappointment of National Mediation Board (NMB) Members Linda Puchala and Deirdre...
BLET members vote unanimously to authorize a strike at SEPTA
BLET members who operate regional rail trains for SEPTA in Philadelphia and the surrounding area have voted to grant BLET National President Eddie Hall the authority to call a strike. Results of the vote count on November 20 show that of engineers eligible to cast...
Amtrak Passenger Engineers: Replacement ballot instructions
As announced on November 10 (https://blet.link/47n02YO), the BLET has reached a tentative agreement for more than 1,400 locomotive engineers who operate Amtrak’s passenger and commuter trains. Ballots were mailed on November 15. Eligible members who have not received...
Daily Headlines
Norfolk Southerns’ Q4 2023 profit falls 33% as East Palestine derailment costs continue to grow
The railroad delivered 3% more shipments during the quarter, but even without the costs related to that toxic crash, its profits still would have been down 14%.
Buttigieg calls on Congress to pass rail safety bill
Secretary Pete Buttigieg recently pressed Congress to pass legislation that would strengthen rail safety policies. Ideally, he emphasized, congressional action on the measure would occur before the anniversary of the derailment of a freight train in East Palestine, Ohio.
Norfolk Southern cutting 7% of management positions
Norfolk Southern told employees today that it will eliminate 7% of its management and staff positions as a cost-cutting move.
Railroads seek to head off Mexican bridge closures as cross-border traffic grows
Railroad executives will meet with U.S. and Mexican customs officials next month to discuss how they can work together to keep vital rail border crossings open amid the surge in migrants crossing the Rio Grande.
Senate confirms three Amtrak board members
The U.S. Senate has confirmed attorney Anthony Coscia, Aviation Strategies President Joel Szabat, and Normal, Illinois, Mayor Christopher Koos as members of Amtrak’s board.
CSX reports Q4 2023 profit decline despite volume growth
The railroad’s operating income declined 10%, to $1.3 billion, as revenue declined 1%, to $3.6 billion.
CN posts Q4 2023 financial, operating results
The Class I posted Q4 revenue of C$4.5 billion, down 2%; net income of C$2.1 billion, up 50%; and C$3.29 diluted earnings per share (EPS), up 57%, compared with Q4 2022 results.
President Biden announces nearly $5 billion for major transportation projects nationwide
Funding announced today will support 37 projects across the country, including $28 million for the Elko Nevada Rail Corridor Enhancement project in Nevada. The project will make improvements on the Union Pacific Railroad at the Elko Yard. Track improvements, infrastructure upgrades, and enhanced signal infrastructure will reduce an average of 2.5 hours of delay per freight train using the corridor.
AAR: North American rail volume down through first three weeks for 2024
Through the first three weeks of 2024 (ending Jan. 20), total North American carload and intermodal traffic dipped 5.6% from the same point last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported.
Amtrak Virginia reports ridership record for 2023
The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) announced that more than 1.32 million passengers traveled on its state-supported Amtrak Virginia rail service in 2023, up 29.8% year over year.
