BLET News
Support for BLET spans generations in contract fight at LIRR
A former member in the 1880s, Fred Wohlenberg was such a strong supporter of the BLE that he had the union's logo engraved on his tombstone. His great-grandson Brad recently contacted the BLET to express his family's continued support for our union....
Union Pacific: BLET members ratify new contract that runs through 2029
BLET members today ratified a new on-property agreement with the Union Pacific Railroad, which covers rates of pay, work rules, and health & welfare benefits for nearly 6,000 members employed at UP. Members voted overwhelmingly in favor of ratification, with 2,467...
Registration extended to October 7 for this month’s rail worker hazmat training class
A few open spots are still available for the 40 Hour Chemical Emergency Response (CER) class being offered by the IBT Rail Workers Hazardous Materials Training Program, which will take place in Houston from October 19-24, 2025. Registration has been extended to...
UP-Western Region GCA arbitrates cases at BLET National Division HQ
From left: First VGC Matt Keene and GC Will Wallace. ____________________ Officers of the Union Pacific-Western Region General Committee of Adjustment (GCA) were at BLET National Division headquarters on September 25 to conduct business on behalf of their members....
Deadline is October 31 to enroll in 2026 Health FSA program
Currently happening until midnight on October 31, 2025, you can enroll or change your Medical or Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA) benefit selections for the 2026 benefit year. Members must enroll in the Health FSA every year — FSA enrollment is not automatic...
A message from BLET President Wallace: Times that may look difficult can also be moments of opportunity
Brothers and Sisters, This past May, I was given the great honor of becoming the National President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, and with that title, the responsibility of serving all our members from coast to coast. I am now the National...
Local Chairmen from BNSF/MRL GCA complete two-year training workshop
The BNSF/MRL General Committee of Adjustment held a training session September 22-24 in Las Vegas for 45 Local Chairmen and Vice Chairmen. General Chairman Kent Psota said that the GCA’s bylaws mandate Local Chairman receive training once every two years. A wide range...
Attention all members at Metra: Replacement ballots now available
BLET members who work for Metra-UP Line should have received a mailing from the National Division with voting instructions on a tentative agreement with the commuter agency. Members who are eligible and have not received a ballot by today, October 1, should visit the...
Open enrollment now underway for Health FSA
From October 1 until midnight on October 31, 2025, you can enroll or change your Medical or Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA) benefit selections for the 2026 benefit year. Members must enroll in the Health FSA every year — FSA enrollment is not automatic each...
BLET continues work to advance “no tax on overtime for all” legislation
The BLET, in conjunction with the Teamsters Rail Conference, is working the halls of Congress to garner additional bipartisan support for H.R. 5475, the “No Tax on Overtime for All Workers Act,” which would provide rail workers with tax exemptions on their overtime...
Potential government shutdown would affect FRA, NMB, STB, RRB
A government shutdown looms and Congress must enact a continuing appropriations act, or Continuing Resolution (CR), by September 30 to prevent a government shutdown that would begin on October 1. At this point, it is unclear if Congress will reach an agreement to...
Arizona Eastern members enjoy improved pay, benefits, and morale thanks to first BLET contract
BLET members working for AZER have reaped the benefits of a union job since voting to join the Brotherhood in 2024. Photo by Cory Rusch, BLET Division 659 ___________________ BLET members at the Arizona Eastern Railway (AZER) are enjoying the benefits of belonging to...
Hybrid training expands opportunities for Division Secretary-Treasurers
In-person and virtual participants in this week's class for Division Secretary-Treasurers, hosted at BLET National Division headquarters. ____________________ The BLET Education & Training Department recently completed another successful hybrid training class for...
BLET’s LIRR members vote to authorize a strike at the right time and if needed; BLET-led coalition of rail unions, in an unusual move, call on the White House to establish a PEB
BLET National Vice President Jim Louis addresses the news conference regarding the ongoing LIRR contract dispute. ____________________ On Monday, September 15, after three years without a raise during a period of high inflation, Long Island Rail Road engineers...
Attention all Union Pacific locomotive engineers: Replacement ballots now available
BLET members who work for the Union Pacific Railroad should have received a mailing from the National Division containing a contract synopsis and a ballot for voting on the tentative agreement. Members who are eligible and have not received a ballot by today,...
Chicago: BLET announces tentative agreement for Metra-UP Line locomotive engineers
The BLET has reached a tentative agreement with Metra that would provide 93 BLET members with 3.5 percent general wage increases. The agreement covers BLET members employed by Metra who operate on the Metra-UP Lines and are represented by the Union Pacific Northern...
Capitol Hill: BLET takes members’ top issues to Congress during Teamsters annual Political Coordinators Meeting
BLET representatives included, from left: Eric Sroik, Chuck Schulz, Pete Baldwin, Ross Grooters, Vince Verna, and Brendan Sullivan. ____________________ Last week, representatives from BLET and BMWED were among 200 Teamsters who gathered in Washington, D.C. for the...
SAVE THE DATE: 2026 BLET regional meetings will be held in New Orleans and Chicago
The BLET’s 2026 Western Regional Meeting will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana, the week of July 13. The 2026 Eastern Regional Meeting will take place in Chicago, Illinois, the week of August 24. As many BLET members are getting ready to schedule their vacations for...
Missouri: Congressman again seeks to overturn two-person crew rule
The two-person crew regulation is of vital importance to rail safety. Photo by Cory Rusch, BLET Division 659 __________________ Last year, U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison, a Republican from Missouri, introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives that sought to...
BLET applauds legislation that would expand “no tax on overtime” provisions to include railroad workers
The BLET is supporting a new bipartisan bill in Congress that would provide rail workers with tax exemptions on their overtime pay. The “No Tax on Overtime for All Workers Act” was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives today by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis...
Daily Headlines
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.
Norfolk Southern reports Q1 2025 results
NS reported Q1 2025 income of $1.1 billion, an increase from $933 million reported in Q1 2025.
Union Pacific reports Q1 2025 results
Union Pacific reported 2025 first quarter net income of $1.6 billion, which compares to 2024 first quarter net income of $1.6 billion.
