BLET News
BLET Town Hall Meetings set for Spokane, Alliance, & Kansas City — Plus December Zoom Sessions
All BLET members are encouraged to attend the upcoming Town Hall meetings to discuss the terms of the tentative national agreement. These meetings are an opportunity for members to hear directly from national officers, ask questions, and share feedback. In addition to...
BLET to host Town Hall Meeting in Roanoke on November 21
The BLET will host a Town Hall Meeting in Roanoke, Va., on Friday, November 21, to discuss the terms of the tentative national agreement. This in-person meeting will provide an opportunity for members to hear directly from national officers, ask questions, and share...
Federal government shutdown ends after 43 days, the longest in U.S. history
The federal government shutdown that began on October 1 came to an end this week after Republican and Democratic Senators struck a deal on the evening of November 9. The 43-day shutdown was the longest in American history. The Senate on November 11 passed the deal by...
Ballots mailed in tentative agreement with Indiana & Ohio Railway
The BLET has reached a tentative agreement (TA) with the Indiana & Ohio Railway (IORY). Ballots were mailed to members this week. The five-year TA runs through 2030 and provides a 7% general wage increase (GWI) for 2026, with 4% GWIs each year from 2027-2030....
Three Town Hall meetings set for next week to discuss tentative national agreement
All BLET members are invited to three Town Hall meetings next week to discuss the tentative national agreement. These meetings are an opportunity for members to hear directly from national officers, ask questions, and share feedback. Details are as follows:...
Veterans Day 2025: BLET thanks all veterans and their families
On this Veterans Day, the BLET thanks all members who have served in our nation’s armed services. Thank you for your service and the sacrifices made by you and your families. We salute you.
RRB announces new location for Boston field office
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has announced that its Boston District Office has moved to a new location. RRB previously announced similar field office relocations in Ohio and Minnesota (details here). The RRB said the moves are part of a series of relocations...
Railroad Retirement Board: Monthly annuities, earnings limits will rise in 2026
Most railroad retirement annuities, like Social Security benefits, will increase in January 2026. Cost-of-living increases are calculated each year in both the Tier I and Tier II portions of a railroad retirement annuity. The Tier I portion, like Social Security...
BLET National Division staffer Sandra Slaughter retires
National Secretary-Treasurer David Estes (left) with retiring BLET staff member Sandra Slaughter, Executive Assistant to the President’s Staff. ____________________ The BLET National Division celebrated the retirement of Sandra Slaughter, Executive Assistant to the...
BLET Town Hall Meetings — Next Week
All BLET members are invited to two Town Hall meetings next week to discuss the tentative national agreement. These meetings are an opportunity for members to hear directly from national officers, ask questions, and share feedback: Tuesday, November 11 – Needles, CA/...
Deadline extended through November 14 to enroll in Health FSA program
The deadline for BLET members to enroll or change their Medical or Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA) benefit selections for the 2026 benefit year has been extended from October 31 to midnight on November 14, 2025. It’s important to note that members must enroll...
BLET reaches tentative agreement on national contract
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) today reached a tentative national agreement with freight railroads represented by the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC). Highlights of the tentative five-year contract include: General wage...
BLET’s District of Columbia Legislative Board hosts 20th anniversary celebration
From left: Herbert Harris Jr., Chairman; Kelly Hamrick, Alternate Secretary-Treasurer; Vince Verna, BLET Vice President & National Legislative Representative; Dorian Potts, Secretary-Treasurer; and Carlyle Smith, First Vice Chairman. ____________________ Members...
Illinois legislature approves $1.5 billion spending bill to fund mass transit, avert fiscal cliff
Early this morning, the Illinois Legislature passed a bill that averts the fiscal cliff at Metra, PACE and CTA by providing $1.5 billion in public transit funding. Governor Pritzker is expected to sign bill into law. About 300 BLET members work for Metra as locomotive...
Bob Peters elected General Chairman of NS-Northern Lines GCA as Dewayne Dehart retires after a dozen years in the elected office
Bob Peters was elected General Chairman of the BLET’s Norfolk Southern-Northern Lines General Committee of Adjustment at the GCA’s quadrennial meeting at BLET National Division headquarters on October 20-21, 2025. The NS-N GCA represents more than 2,400 active and...
BLET reaches tentative agreement with Western New York & Pennsylvania
Ballots are due back to the National Division by November 11. Photo by Cory Rusch, BLET Division 659 ____________________ The BLET has reached a tentative five-year agreement with the Western New York & Pennsylvania (WNYP) Railroad, governing rates of pay,...
Mark your calendars: 2026 BLET regional meetings to provide training, fellowship
BLET members who are scheduling their vacations for next year should make plans to attend one or both of the BLET’s regional meetings in 2026. The 2026 Western Regional Meeting will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana, the week of July 13, while the 2026 Eastern...
In the line of duty: BLET mourns the loss of Brother Daniel P. Peterson
The BLET is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Brother Daniel P. Peterson, age 52, who died on the morning of October 19 as a result of an incident while working as a conductor for BNSF Railway. Brother Peterson was a proud and active member of BLET Division 232 in...
Railroad Retirement Board Q&A: Applying for a retirement annuity
Railroad employees considering retirement should familiarize themselves with the Railroad Retirement Board’s (RRB) annuity application process. Understanding how the process works can prevent delays and ensure that annuity payments begin as soon as possible after...
National Division begins taking requests for 2026 Time Books
The BLET National Division is now taking requests from members who wish to receive a new Time Book for 2026. These books will only be distributed to members upon request. To request a Time Book, members must first log in to the Members’ Area of the BLET National...
Daily Headlines
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.
CSX announces Q1 2025 results
CSX Corp. announced first quarter 2025 operating income of $1.04 billion compared to $1.34 billion in the prior year period.
First phase of NJ entrance to new Gateway project rail tunnel should be done by fall
The new two-track tunnel between North Jersey and Manhattan is meant to provide more reliable service along the Northeast Corridor for NJ Transit and Amtrak riders entering and leaving Manhattan’s Penn Station.
DOT cuts planning grant for Texas high-speed rail between Dallas and Houston
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said if the private sector wants the rail line, it should cover planning costs.
