BLET News
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 .
Video: IBT General President O’Brien addresses BLET delegates
Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien kicked off the BLET’s Fifth National Convention with an address to delegates on Monday morning, October 10.
FRA Administrator Bose talks safety on Day 3 of BLET’s Fifth National Convention
Other guest speakers addressing the BLET convention delegates Wednesday included U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona’s 7th District, Kat Bisbikis, President of the BLET Auxiliary, and Lyndon Isaak, President of Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC). U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vermont) delivered a fiery speech via video and U. S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts) also delivered her remarks to the convention via video.
Labor Secretary Marty Walsh highlights Day 2 of BLET’s Fifth National Convention
U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, during an address at the Fifth National Convention of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) on Tuesday, praised railroad workers for continuing to work in the most difficult of circumstances, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The Secretary said that the work of railroaders enabled other essential workers to their jobs to keep the nation moving. “The entire economy depends on the work you do,” Secretary Walsh said. “Clean water, food, power to heat and cool our homes. This nation owes you a debt of gratitude.”
President Pierce addresses delegates at Fifth National Convention
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 October 10. His report focused on the Tentative National Freight Agreement and a call for unity now and in the days to come.
Addresses by Congressional Leaders and Labor Leaders Highlight BLET National Convention
A lineup of top Congressional and national labor leaders kicked off the first day of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Fifth National Convention being held in Las Vegas.
Setting the record straight on Tentative National Freight Agreement
My message in the last BLET Newsletter was a joint message with SMART TD President Jeremy Ferguson giving a detailed report on the presentations that the United Rail Unions made before Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) 250. Much has happened since that joint message. On August 17, 2022, PEB 250 issued its recommendations; that detailed report is available on the BLET website, and it started a second 30-day cooling off period.
Daily Headlines
People impacted by NS derailment in East Palestine have Thanksgiving meal
Family and friends whose lives have been turned upside down after the toxic East Palestine Norfolk Southern train derailment more than nine months ago shared a Thanksgiving meal together on Tuesday.
911 call center says it misidentified crossing before derailment of Chicago bound Amtrak train
As a result, the train’s engineer had no warning about the stranded vehicle until it came into view at some point before the crash. Six people were taken to the hospital.
FRA issues Safety Advisory on weather-related accidents/incidents
According to FRA, there have been 123 such accidents/incidents since 2021.
STB extends deadline for feedback on reciprocal switching rule
The new deadline is December 20, 2023.
Mexico issues decree forcing private freight railway lines to give preference to passenger service
Mexico’s government issued a decree Monday that will force private freight railway lines to give preference to passenger train service over their normal freight runs.
Union Pacific fired him rather than heed his warnings of dangerous rail conditions
“If you keep reporting these track defects, you will no longer have a job at Union Pacific.”
STB Chairman Oberman will not seek reappointment
Oberman used his position as a bully pulpit to criticize railroads and encourage them to reach their potential by hauling more of the nation’s freight.
TSB to investigate collision involving two BNSF trains in metro Vancouver
Canada’s Transportation Safety Board says it is sending an investigator to probe a train collision and derailment in Metro Vancouver.
Video: Could Florida’s Brightline be a model for high-speed rail in U.S.?
A rail line linking two popular Thanksgiving destinations, Miami and Orlando, is giving Florida its first taste of the potential for how high-speed rail could change holiday travel.
Class I executives outline plans to bolster rail service
The ongoing theme of improving rail service as a means to capture market share away from trucking again appeared in comments from Class I railroad executives speaking at recent investor conferences.
