BLET News
Take Action: BLET pursues two-person crew bill in New York
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) is mobilizing its members in the State of New York to lobby in favor of a statewide two-person crew bill. Earlier this month, S3953B was introduced in the State Senate and a companion bill, A1287B, was introduced in the State Assembly.
BLET to host Town Hall meetings in Little Rock, St. Louis
The first meeting will be held on May 10 at 10:00 a.m. in Little Rock, Arkansas. The second meeting will be held on May 11 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Louis, Missouri. All BLET members in the area are encouraged to attend.
Ballots to be mailed in tentative BLET-DM&E agreement
The tentative agreement provides General Wage Increases (GWIs) of 24.75% (27% compounded) for the life of the contract (January 1, 2020 to January 1, 2024). There are no major work rule changes and no health care concessions contained in the tentative pact. Online voting will be conducted by TrueBallot, Inc.
BLET to mark 159th anniversary on May 8
On May 8, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) will mark its 159th anniversary. The BLET and its members are proud of our heritage as the oldest labor union in North America.
The Coordinated Bargaining Coalition again calls on NMB to proffer arbitration
Due to the NCCC’s refusal to negotiate a fair agreement in good faith, all CBC Unions again request that the NMB proffer arbitration to the parties to stop the endless delays by the rail carriers.
Deadline approaches for BLET’s Denver regional meeting
Those planning to attend the BLET’s upcoming regional meeting in Denver, Colorado, are reminded that the deadline to make hotel reservations is Friday, May 13, 2022. The meeting will be held June 13-17, 2022.
Registration opens for BLET’s Baltimore regional meeting, August 1-5, 2022
Registration is now open for the BLET regional meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, August 1-5, 2022.
Barbara McLaughlin, 1934-2022
Barbara McLaughlin, the wife of late BLE International President Ronald P. McLaughlin, passed away on April 16, 2022. She was 87 years old. Ron McLaughlin served the former Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers as International President from 1991-1996, and he passed away at the age of 92 on November 12, 2021. The couple was married for more than 67 years.
BLET California State Legislative Board welcomes President Pierce, rallies by BLET’s mobile billboard
In San Diego today, members of the BLET’s California State Legislative Board, National President Dennis Pierce, and numerous other special guests rallied by a mobile billboard that is part of the union’s outreach campaign demanding that railroads invest in train crews and safety.
Speak out now: Railroad attendance policies unsafe
BLET members and their families are urged to alert the White House and their members of Congress about the dangerous attendance policies imposed by Class I freight railroads by using the BLET’s new legislative outreach platform — “Take Action” — which been activated for the first time for use in this campaign.
VP Wallace outlines PSR problems, offers solutions at STB hearing
BLET National Vice President Mark L. Wallace testified yesterday on behalf of the BLET at a hearing before the U.S. Surface Transportation Board titled “Urgent Issues in Freight Rail Service.”
BLET National President Pierce, Vice President and NLR Verna meet with Ohio SLB officers, members and U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown
On Monday, April 25, 2022, BLET National President Pierce and Vice President and National Legislative Representative Vince Verna attended the opening sessions of the quadrennial meeting of BLET’s Ohio State Legislative Board (SLB) in Columbus, Ohio. Brendan Sullivan, BLET Director of Legislative Affairs, was also in attendance
BLET National Division files comments for STB hearing, Vice President Mark Wallace to testify
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, April 25 — On Friday, April 22, 2022, the BLET National Division submitted written comments in advance of the upcoming Surface Transportation Board (STB) hearing scheduled for April 26 and 27, 2022. The in-person hearing, titled “Urgent Issues in...
CBC Unions reject lump-sum offers, seek proffer of arbitration
The Coordinated Bargaining Coalition released the following statement on April 25, 2022: On January 24, 2022, after more than two years of bargaining with the major U.S. Class I railroads, the 10 Rail Unions bargaining as part of the Coordinated Bargaining Coalition...
BLET’s Fifth National Convention
The BLET’s national conventions are held quadrennially, or once every four years. Approximately 475 delegates will represent more than 33,000 active locomotive engineers and trainmen throughout the United States.
BLET wins in court over Union Pacific’s antiunion tactics
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) secured a major court victory over the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) on April 13 as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit upheld a district court’s 2021 ruling granting the BLET a preliminary injunction stopping the railroads’ indefinite suspension of six members of BLET Division 192 in El Paso.
Ballots to be mailed in tentative BLET-MRL agreement
The tentative agreement governs rates of pay, work rules, and health & welfare for approximately 475 members.
Rail Labor calls on STB to act on poor-quality rail service
The BLET reaffiliated with the TTD in January 2022, and many of the issues raised by President Regan reflect the concerns of BLET members, particularly the negative impact that Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) has had on our industry, and the draconian attendance policies that have been implemented in the PSR era.
President Pierce answers follow-up questions from March 8 Congressional hearing
On March 8, 2022, BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce testified before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials. Following the hearing, President Pierce received questions for the hearing record from Rep. Jesús “Chuy” Garcia and Rep. Rick Crawford.
Registration opens for BLET’s Denver regional meeting, June 13-17, 2022
Registration is now open for the BLET regional meeting in Denver, Colorado, June 13-17, 2022.
Daily Headlines
President Biden announces $8.2 Billion in new grants for high-speed rail and pipeline of projects nationwide
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today announced that it has awarded $8.2 billion for 10 passenger rail projects across the country while announcing corridor planning activities that will impact every region nationwide.
Labor unions urge STB to press big U.S. railroads on employment and service levels
A coalition of rail labor unions has criticized the U.S. Class I railroads’ hiring efforts, their pace of service improvements, and the industry’s safety record in a filing with the Surface Transportation Board.
Biden administration pledges $6 billion to a pair of high-speed electric rail routes in U.S. West
U.S. senators from California and Nevada said the federal government will give $3 billion for a planned privately-owned route between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area plus another $3.1 billion for an initial segment of California’s publicly-funded effort to eventually connect Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Legislators announce selection of eight more passenger routes for FRA Corridor ID program
Selection provides funding for studies that are a prelude to new or expanded Amtrak service.
Senator Brown: Washington selects 4 routes for expansion priorities
The Federal Railroad Administration has selected four routes serving Ohio and other states as priorities for Amtrak expansion, Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio said Tuesday.
NS to end relocation aid right after one-year anniversary of East Palestine derailment
Norfolk Southern railroad plans to stop paying relocation aid to people displaced by last February’s fiery derailment in eastern Ohio right after the one-year anniversary of the crash.
BMWED, Union Pacific tussle over furloughs
Debate about furloughs at Union Pacific and how many employees could be affected continue to play out in the public arena following a recent industry conference where Surface Transportation Board Chairman Marty Oberman called out Union Pacific leadership.
FRA wants railroads to bolster winter operation procedures
U.S. railroads should beef up the procedures they use for responding to adverse weather conditions, including seeing how weather-related technologies can be integrated into positive train control and whether the railroads can collaborate on developing best practices, according to a safety advisory from the Federal Railroad Administration.
Railyard explosion, inspections raise safety questions about Union Pacific’s hazmat shipping
Federal inspectors have twice found hundreds of defects in the locomotives and railcars Union Pacific uses at the world’s largest railyard in Nebraska, but none of those seem to explain why a shipping container filled with toxic acid exploded there this fall.
Failed wheel bearing caused Kentucky derailment, CSX says
CSX says a failed wheel bearing caused the Nov. 22 derailment that led to an evacuation of residents in Livingston, Ky., on Thanksgiving.
