BLET News
BLET mourns passing of Washington State Legislative Board Chairman Shahraim Allen
Officers, members and staff of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) are deeply saddened to learn of the unexpected passing of Washington State Legislative Board Chairman Shahraim C. Allen, who died on June 24, 2021. He was 45 years old.
Rail Conference Joins High-Speed Rail Coalition
Dennis R. Pierce, President, Teamsters Rail Conference announced today that the Teamsters Rail Conference, following a unanimous vote by its Policy Committee, has joined the U.S. High Speed Rail Coalition Executive Committee. The Committee is comprised of passenger and high-speed rail stakeholders, proponents and supporters from all corners of the Nation.
BLET General Chairman Karakian delivers opening prayer at Teamsters 30th Convention
Brother John M. Karakian, General Chairman of the BLET’s CN-Grand Trunk Western General Committee of Adjustment, had the honor of delivering the invocation during opening ceremonies of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters’ 30th Convention on Tuesday, June 22.
Jeff Thurman reelected General Chairman of BNSF (former SLSF)/MNA GCA
Jeffrey L. Thurman was reelected by acclamation to his third term as General Chairman of the BNSF (former SLSF)/MNA General Committee of Adjustment (GCA) at the GCA’s quadrennial meeting on June 9, 2021.
Labor Member Bragg announces the retirement of Assistant Geri Clark
Geraldine “Geri” Clark, long-time Assistant to the Labor Member, will retire effective July 2, 2021, after 51 years of dedicated service to railroad workers and the Railroad Retirement Board.
BLET reaches tentative agreement with Long Island Rail Road
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative agreement with the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) governing rates of pay, benefits and work rules for nearly 500 locomotive engineers.
BLET prevails in injunction hearing
Following a June 11 hearing, a federal judge in El Paso, Texas has issued a Preliminary Injunction against Union Pacific Railroad (UP) to reverse the unlawful suspensions of a group of six members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET)
Career opportunities: BLET seeks applicants for National Legislative Office positions
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen is announcing two open full-time positions for employment in BLET’s Washington, D.C. Legislative office.
INVEST Act clears T&I Committee after railroads’ attack falls short
Early this morning, the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America Act (INVEST Act) was passed by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee by a 38-26 vote.
BLET backs two-person crew, rail safety provisions of INVEST Act
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) is endorsing the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America Act (INVEST Act), which is expected to be marked-up in the U.S. House of Representatives on June 9. The bill would authorize $547 billion in spending over five years on surface transportation, would mandate two-person crews on freight trains, and would triple funding for Amtrak.
Deadline approaches for BLET’s Austin regional meeting, July 12-16, 2021
Those planning to attend the BLET’s regional meeting next month in Austin, Texas, are reminded that the deadline to make hotel reservations is next week — Friday, June 18, 2021.
BLET honors the memory of Jose Hernandez III, son of BLET member, killed in VTA mass shooting
All men and women of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) send their deepest condolences to Brother Roy A. Benbow, his family, and friends. Brother Benbow is a member of BLET Division 839, whose step-son Jose Hernandez III was killed in the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) mass shooting in San Jose, California, on May 26, 2021. Jose was one of nine victims in the tragedy. He was just 35 years old.
Federal court orders UP to put BLET officers, member back to work
A federal judge in El Paso, Texas has ordered Union Pacific Railroad (UP) to reverse the unlawful suspensions of a group of six members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) — five of whom are elected officers of Division 192 in El Paso. The judge ruled that all these union members had been wrongfully suspended by the UP in violation of the Railway Labor Act (RLA).
Former BLET Vice President Stephen D. Speagle, 1946-2021
Stephen D. Speagle, former National Vice President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, passed away on May 26, 2021. He was 74 years old.
Memorial Day 2021
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President Each year, on Memorial Day, we pay tribute to the men and women who have given their lives serving in our military, and we honor them for defending our country and our way of life.
Amtrak General Chairman Mark Kenny reelected by acclamation
Mark B. Kenny was reelected by acclamation to his seventh term as General Chairman at the Amtrak General Committee of Adjustment’s fifth quadrennial meeting, which was held May 19-20, 2021.
On the Right Track: 2021 Triennial Election manual now online
The 2021 edition of “On the Right Track,” the Local Division nomination and election procedure manual, is now available for download from the Members’ Area of the BLET website and, for those Officers who have access, the document is also accessible in the Document Library in UnionTrack.
RRB Labor Member reminds railroaders about importance of Form BA-6
The following is a message to Rail Labor from John Bragg, Labor Member of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board.
Registration ongoing for BLET regional meetings in Austin, Nashville
Registration remains ongoing for the BLET’s two regional meetings taking place in 2021: July 12-16 in Austin, Texas; and August 2-6 in Nashville, Tennessee. For both meetings, CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19 protocols will be strictly enforced to protect the health and safety of everyone in attendance.
Lyons reelected CSX-Northern Lines General Chairman
William P. Lyons was reelected by acclamation to his third full term as Chairman of the CSX-Northern Lines General Committee of Adjustment at its quadrennial meeting in Pittsburgh, Pa., held May 4-6, 2021.
Daily Headlines
States urge feds to require railroads to release more information about toxic freight in emergency situations
Attorneys General from Pennsylvania and 12 other states signed a letter last month to the U.S. Department of Transportation supporting a proposed federal rule to require railroads to make information about hazardous materials being hauled on their trains available electronically to emergency responders.
Biden announces $16.4 billion for Amtrak rail improvements along Northeast Corridor
President Joe Biden announced Monday the federal government will pump more than $16.4 billion into improving the Northeast Corridor, the nation’s busiest rail line.
BNSF’s Q3 2023 earnings decline nearly 15% amid volume drop
BNSF Railway’s profits, revenue, and volume all declined in the third quarter, parent company Berkshire Hathaway reported on Saturday. BNSF’s pre-tax earnings fell 14.6%, to $1.6 billion, as revenue declined 12.4%, to $5.6 billion.
STB sets schedule for review of CPKC, CSX acquisition and operation of Bigbee short line
Federal regulators have accepted the applications Canadian Pacific Kansas City and CSX Transportation have filed seeking permission to acquire and operate Genesee & Wyoming short line Meridian & Bigbee.
STB moves ahead with small shipper’s common carrier complaint against UP
The Surface Transportation Board has denied Union Pacific’s request to dismiss a common-carrier case filed by a small shipper in the Twin Cities.
House GOP punts vote on transportation funding amid Amtrak concerns
Among the spending reductions outlined in a summary of the bill include a drop in Amtrak funding of about $1.58 billion below the fiscal 2023 levels.
NTSB focuses on BNSF inspection practices after fatal Colorado derailment
Poor track conditions have contributed to multiple fatalities on BNSF tracks in recent years. The NTSB blamed track poor conditions after an Amtrak train derailed on a BNSF route in Montana in 2021, killing three and injuring 49 others.
AAR: Rail volumes up for second consecutive month in October 2023
Total year-over-year carload and intermodal volumes for U.S. railroads rose for the second consecutive month in October 2023.
Positive Train Control needs improvements to prevent more derailments, NTSB says
The automatic braking system railroads were required to install several years ago needs improvement to better prevent collisions, federal safety investigators said in a report Wednesday.
Head count for U.S. Class I rail operations shows mixed bag
The average number of T&E employees for the first three quarters of 2023 was 51,580, about 8.5% higher than an average of 47,542 employees for the first three quarters of 2020.
