BLET News
BLET-backed Safe Rail Bill advances in New Jersey General Assembly
The BLET is working hard to secure passage of an important rail safety bill in the state of New Jersey. On June 15, New Jersey State Legislative Board Chairman Ray Vigil testified before the General Assembly’s Transportation Committee in support of Bill A5605, the...
Mugavero elected General Chairman of CP Rail-U.S. GCA
Brother Nick T. Mugavero Jr. was elected General Chairman of the CP Rail-U.S. General Committee of Adjustment at the GCA’s quadrennial meeting in Las Vegas, June 5-6, 2023. A member of BLET Division 790 in Chicago, Brother Mugavero joined the BLET on March 1, 1999, as...
Ohio legislators talk rail safety bill with BLET members
A bipartisan group of political allies from Ohio’s State Senate and House of Representatives were the featured speakers at a special meeting for Cleveland-area BLET members at National Division headquarters on June 12. Sponsored by the BLET’s Ohio State Legislative...
Letter from Rail Conference President Wallace, BLET President Hall and BMWED President Cardwell
This message is to inform you of the ongoing anti-union activities of CSX at the railhead in Annapolis Junction, Md.
Honoring our Founders
As the BLET marks its 160th anniversary this year, we are proud to honor the brave locomotive engineers who founded our Brotherhood so long ago. Without question, the founder and leader of the early Brotherhood was William D. Robinson. A Michigan Central locomotive...
BLET Fact Sheet on new UP paid sick leave agreement
The General Chairmen involved in negotiating a new paid sick leave deal with the Union Pacific Railroad have prepared a Fact Sheet to address potential membership questions.
BLET and Union Pacific reach paid sick leave agreement
Union Pacific Railroad reached an agreement with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) to provide paid sick leave to the approximately 5,600 locomotive engineers employed by the railroad. Under the agreement, BLET members will have up to seven paid days to use in the event of illness.
BLET’s paid sick leave agreement with NS is not tied to attendance policy
No concessions and no punitive attendance policy.” That was the clear message delivered to BLET’s Norfolk Southern members over conference calls and Zoom meetings set up to explain the breakthrough tentative agreement announced on May 18. The new policy will provide up to seven paid sick days per year to BLET members working at NS.
President Hall exposes dangers of long trains in Washington Post interview
President Hall exposes dangers of long trains in Washington Post interview Long trains have been a major safety issue for several years now, especially since the introduction of so-called Precision Scheduled Railroading by Class I railroads throughout the United...
Schulz reelected Chairman of Wisconsin State Legislative Board
Chuck M. Schulz was reelected to his third term as Chairman of the BLET’s Wisconsin State Legislative Board at the Board’s quadrennial meeting in Madison, Wisc., on May 24, 2023.
Driscoll reelected Conrail General Chairman
The Conrail SSA/CSXT-Northern District GCA is comprised of 13 different BLET Local Divisions on two properties, Conrail Shared Assets and CSXT Northern District, and represents approximately 1,400 active and retired members.
BLET to host virtual Secretary-Treasurer training June 12-13
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, May 25 — The BLET Education and Training Department will conduct a virtual training class for Division and State Legislative Board Secretary-Treasurers via Zoom on June 12 & 13, 2023. Registration for the class is available on a first come,...
Two-person crew becomes law in Minnesota
Minnesota is known for these numbers — 10,000 lakes and two-person crews. In a victory for railroad safety, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed a two-person crew bill into law on May 24.
New STF Investigators complete training at BLET National Division
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, May 24 — Members of the BLET Safety Task Force (STF) met for in-depth training and orientation meetings from May 23-25 at BLET National Division headquarters in Independence, Ohio. Several new members were recently appointed to Investigator...
BLET and Union Pacific reach historic agreement to improve work schedules and time off for locomotive engineers
The tentative agreement provides locomotive engineers with an 11 days on, 4 days off schedule.
BLET and Norfolk Southern reach first deal on engineer paid sick leave
The BLET and Norfolk Southern announced Thursday that they have reached an agreement to provide up to seven paid sick days per year to BLET members. The agreement will provide Norfolk Southern engineers with five new days of paid sick leave per year while also offering them the flexibility to use up to two additional days of existing paid time off as sick leave.
NASLBC 2023 meeting kicks off with speech from President Hall
Members of the BLET’s National Association of State Legislative Board Chairmen (NASLBC) opened their 48th annual meeting here earlier today, welcoming speeches from the BLET National Division Executive Committee and the BLET Auxiliary.
BLET members ratify new contract with South Buffalo Railway
On May 5, members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with the South Buffalo Railway (SBRR).
BLET marks 160th anniversary on May 8
Today, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) marks its 160th anniversary. The BLET and its members are proud of our heritage as the oldest labor union in North America.
Governor Walz talks rail safety at BLET Minnesota legislative board meeting
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz focused on rail safety as the guest of honor at the BLET Minnesota State Legislative Board’s quadrennial meeting in Bloomington, Minn., April 23-26, 2023.
Daily Headlines
Opinion: California is building its bullet train, so let’s make it work
But let’s get real: This project is going to be constructed one way or another, whether at reasonable speed or in pokey chug-chug fashion. It’s time we acknowledge that and focus on making it work the best for everyone. And sooner the better.
CPKC 2023 Holiday Train raises record $1.8 million for food charities
Completing its 25th year, the CPKC Holiday Train has raised more than $24.3 million and collected approximately 5.3 million pounds of food for community food banks in Canada and the United States since its inaugural journey in 1999, CPKC officials said in a press release.
High-speed rail gains momentum as Hyperloop falters
The closure of Hyperloop One signifies a shift in focus towards high-speed rail initiatives, reflecting a growing momentum in the advancement of public transportation infrastructure.
Ski commuter trains get another look as Colorado’s mountain roads are overwhelmed
Commuter rail is emerging as a travel alternative as mountain highways in Colorado and other Western states have become clogged with cars and semis, often shutting down for hours on end in winter weather and deeply impacting ski-town economies.
ProPublica: When railroad workers get hurt on the job, some supervisors go to extremes to keep it quiet
Railroad management culture blames workers when they get hurt and motivates supervisors to go to extreme, and sometimes dangerous, lengths to keep injuries off the books.
ProPublica: “It looks like the railroad is asking for you to say thank you”
After brakeman Chris Cole lost both his legs on the job, KCS railroad officials removed evidence before state regulators could see it, omitted key facts in reports and suspended him from a job he could never return to.
US to suspend rail operations at Eagle Pass and El Paso due to migrant surge
The migrant surge is being driven by misinformation orchestrated by transnational criminal organizations and cartels, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
One crew member hurt as UP train derails after grade crossing collision near Fort Worth
One crew member suffered what were reported to be minor injuries after a Union Pacific train derailed after hitting a truck hauling an oversized load at a grade crossing west of Fort Worth, Texas, on December 17.
BNSF tells regulators that UP aims to block interchange access to proposed Utah short line
BNSF Railway this week asked federal regulators to ensure that it can use its trackage rights over Union Pacific to interchange with a proposed new short line railway in Utah.
EPA begins formal review of vinyl chloride, toxic chemical that burned in East Palestine
The Biden administration has initiated a formal evaluation of risks posed by vinyl chloride, the cancer-causing chemical that burned in a towering plume of toxic black smoke following a fiery train derailment earlier this year in eastern Ohio.
