BLET News
Thanksgiving 2022
In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, I wish to express my heartfelt thanks to each and every member of our proud Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. You are indeed what makes the BLET the leading Rail Labor union in the United States, and your dedication makes the American economy the strongest in the world.
Split Decision: Unions for Railroad Engineers and Conductors Take Different Routes in Freight Rail Contract Ratification Vote
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen vote to ratify national rail agreement with the nation’s Class I railroads; operating craft (Train & Engine service) members of the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet...
National contract replacement ballot deadline is November 18
The deadline to request a replacement ballot is November 18, 2022 at 3:30 p.m. ET.
BLET reaches tentative agreement with Long Island Rail Road
Ballots are being mailed today, November 14, to eligible members regarding BLET’s tentative agreement with the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce announced.
BLET, SMART TD Town Hall yields facts about tentative agreement
At a November 9 Town Hall meeting, SMART Transportation Division President Jeremy Ferguson and Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen President Dennis Pierce discussed the tentative National Rail Agreement with dozens of members from both unions. A video recording of the Town Hall (approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes) is available on the BLET and SMART TD websites.
Veterans Day 2022
Please join me in honoring America’s veterans with the dignity and respect they so richly
Important Update for all BLET and SMART TD Members Included in National Negotiations
Late last week, members of the Cooperating Railway Labor Organizations (CRLO) and the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC) convened to review and renew the payment rates for the nationally negotiated health & welfare Plans including medical, dental, vision, and life/accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) benefits.
Reminder: Contract Ratification Ballots due November 20 in tentative national agreement
Eligible members who have not received a contract ratification ballot by Wednesday, November 9, should request a replacement by calling the BLET National Division at (216) 241-2630, ext. 222.
BLET, SMART-TD to host joint Town Hall meeting on November 9
The BLET and SMART-TD will host a joint Town Hall meeting next week to discuss the tentative national contract. Members of both unions from all involved railroads are welcome to attend.
BLET Convention national anthem video now available online
A copy of the Star-Spangled Banner video that played each morning during the BLET’s Fifth National Convention in Last Vegas last month is now available for viewing in the members’ area of the BLET website.
Dick Crow reelected UP-Northern Region General Chairman
R.E. (Dick) Crow was reelected by acclamation to his third full term as General Chairman of the Union Pacific-Northern Region General Committee of Adjustment during the GCA’s quadrennial meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 5-6, 2022.
President Pierce to attend Dallas-Fort Worth Town Hall November 1
BLET National President Dennis Pierce will attend a Town Hall meeting in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on November 1 to discuss the tentative national agreement. The meeting is open to BLET members from all involved railroads.
President Pierce discusses tentative national agreement in podcast
BLET National President Dennis Pierce discussed details of the tentative national agreement as a guest on America’s Work Force Union Podcast where he was interviewed by program host Ed “Flash” Ferenc. A
BLET members to begin voting November 1 on tentative national agreement
Ballots will be mailed Monday, October 31, to approximately 24,000 BLET members and voting will begin on November 1 regarding the tentative national agreement. Ballots are due on November 20 by 11:59 p.m. ET.
President Pierce to attend Town Hall meetings Oct. 25-28 to discuss tentative national agreement
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, October 20 — The BLET’s Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe General Committees of Adjustment are hosting four Town Hall meetings in Missouri and Nebraska open to BLET members from all involved railroads next week regarding the tentative...
BLET joins in 2022 Houston Solidarity Rally
A large contingent of BLET members and officers participated in a solidarity rally in Houston on October 18. The purpose was to create and show solidarity among members of BLET, SMART-TD, BMWED, along with members of other invited rail labor unions.
Delegates donate to help family of fallen Brother Marvin Lee
BLET delegates showed their generosity at the Fifth National Convention on October 13, donating money to help the family of a fallen Brother. In an additional act of kindness, the BLET donated more than 250 boxed lunches to the Las Vegas Rescue Mission to help feed the homeless.
Retiring Vice Presidents Pruitt, Priester address delegates as Fifth National Convention adjourns
Delegates on October 13 heard farewell addresses from retiring National Division officers Lee Pruitt and Mike Priester as the Fifth National Convention of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) came to a close.
Video: President Pierce delivers State of the Union speech
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce delivered the Report of the National President during the morning session of the BLET’s Fifth National Convention on Monday, October 10.
Video: Labor Secretary Marty Walsh addresses BLET delegates
U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh thanked railroad workers during his speech to delegates attending the BLET’s Fifth National Convention on Tuesday afternoon, October 11. Click here to see a video of his comments: https://youtu.be/Yi_tqOdLM6Q .
Daily Headlines
Five of the six Class I railroads saw volume declines in 2023
Canadian Pacific Kansas City was the only Class I railroad that was able to eke out higher volume last year. CPKC’s traffic was up a scant 0.1% in 2023, which was a down year for North American freight volume.
AAR reports final rail traffic volumes for 2023
December 2023 was the fourth consecutive month that total year-over-year carload and intermodal volumes rose for U.S. Class I railroads.
Improving rail service key to growing intermodal volumes
Intermodal rail in 2024 is likely to still face pressure from the trucking market; however, market conditions for the overall freight transportation market also appear to be returning to pre-pandemic patterns, and so providing good rail service will be key in enabling intermodal rail to compete.
FRA’s train crew size rule moves forward
The Federal Railroad Administration has submitted its final rule on train crew staffing to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, with the final rule potentially being released in March, according to OMB’s website.
7 hot issues for rail stakeholders in 2024
Railroads, shippers and unions are tracking hot topics ranging from service improvement to government oversight to safety regulations in 2024. Two of the items are federal action on rail safety and labor contract negotiations.
STB soliciting nominations for Passenger Rail Advisory Committee
The Surface Transportation Board is seeking candidates to fill 18 vacancies on its newly formed Passenger Railroad Advisory Committee (PRAC). Nominations are due by Feb. 5, 2024; candidates may nominate themselves.
Analysis: The invisible railroad problem
Why is it that no one notices railroads until there’s a derailment, blocked grade crossing, or a massive supply chain problem like we saw in 2022?
Will Congress pass any rail safety bills in 2024?
The passage of any rail safety legislation in Congress next year is likely to be influenced by two things, industry observers told FreightWaves: the 2024 presidential election and the release of a report by the National Transportation Safety Board on the February 2023 derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine, Ohio.
Outgoing STB Chairman Oberman condemns Wall Street influence over railroads
Martin J. Oberman isn’t ready to retire just yet. That much was clear from his impassioned talk at a recent Northwestern University Transportation Center gathering.
BNSF officially takes over MRL operations
BNSF Railway Co. yesterday resumed operations of Montana Rail Link (MRL), which now is part of the Class I’s Montana subdivision.
