BLET News
Memorial Day 2018
Over the past 155 years, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has seen too many of our union members go off to war and not come home.
Groose elected Chairman of Missouri State Legislative Board
Calvin L. Groose was elected the new Chairman of the Missouri State Legislative Board at its quadrennial meeting in Jefferson, Mo., May 6-8, 2018.
Tim Price reelected Ohio State Legislative Board Chairman
Timothy T. Price was reelected by acclamation to his first full term as Chairman of the Ohio State Legislative Board at the Board’s 16th quadrennial meeting held in Columbus, Ohio, April 22-24, 2018.
BLET files joint comments regarding rail industry automation
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) was one of five rail Brotherhoods to file joint comments on May 7 in response to the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) March 29 Request For Information (RFI) regarding automation in the railroad industry.
Deadline is less than a week away for BLET’s Monterey regional meeting
BLET members and guests planning to attend the BLET’s regional meeting in Monterey, Calif., have just under a week to make their hotel reservations. The meeting will take place June 18-22, and room reservations must be made by May 17.
Ryan Snow reelected to second term as Chairman of California State Legislative Board
Ryan K. Snow was reelected to his second term as Chairman of the California State Legislative Board during the Board’s 8th quadrennial session in Lake Tahoe, Calif., April 24-26, 2018.
BLET marks 155th anniversary
On May 8, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) proudly marked its 155th anniversary. The union was founded as the Brotherhood of the Footboard on May 8, 1863 in Marshall, Mich. In 1864, the union changed its name to Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE), the name it retained for 140 years until merging with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters on Jan. 1, 2004, when it became the BLET. The BLET is the oldest labor union in the Western Hemisphere.
Ballots mailed in tentative BLET, CN-IC agreement
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative contract agreement with Canadian National’s former Illinois Central property. Ballots were mailed earlier this week to active members of the BLET employed by CN-IC who are eligible to vote in the ratification of this agreement.
Pierce, Pruitt and Joynt elected to lead Teamsters Rail Conference
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce was reelected by acclamation to his third term as President of the Teamsters Rail Conference at the Rail Conference’s Fourth Quadrennial Convention in Las Vegas on May 2, 2018.
Tell Your Member of Congress to Co- Sponsor the Butch Lewis Act
Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa is asking all fellow Teamsters to do their part to help protect pensions in America. The multiemployer pension system has for many decades been an essential foundation for providing financial security in retirement for millions of Americans and their families. Now, through no fault of the beneficiaries, the earned pension benefits of millions of retirees are being threatened due to the impending financial insolvency of a number of multiemployer plans.
Deadline looms for BLET’s Monterey regional meeting
The hotel registration deadline is coming soon for those planning to attend the BLET’s regional meeting at the Hyatt Monterey Hotel & Spa in Monterey, Calif., June 18-22, 2018.
Workers Memorial Day 2018
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President Every year, too many American workers are injured or killed in on-the-job accidents. Countless others get sick or become disabled because of workplace exposures to hazardous materials and conditions. Each year on April 28, we recognize Workers Memorial Day to commemorate and honor these workers and renew the fight for safe workplaces.
BLET reaches tentative contract with Indiana Rail Road
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a Tentative Agreement with the Indiana Rail Road (INRD) governing rates of pay, benefits and work rules for 54 operating employees.
BLET to host Local Chairman class in November 2018
The BLET Education and Training Department will host a Local Chairman training class from November 11-15, 2018, at the BLET National Division headquarters and Training Center in Independence, Ohio. This class is a rescheduling of the April class. The class is designed to help Local Chairmen develop and hone the skills necessary to provide the best representation possible to our members. Due to the upcoming triennial elections and the convention later this year, the November class will be the only class for Local Chairmen in 2018.
RRB announces additional 2018 informational conferences
The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has announced additional dates for the agency’s 2018 informational conferences
Trumble elected to second term as Michigan State Legislative Board Chairman
B.J. Trumble was reelected by acclamation to his second term as Chairman of the Michigan State Legislative Board at the Board’s Fourth Quadrennial meeting in Lansing, Mich., March 19-20, 2018.
BLET preparing comments on automation in the railroad industry; Members can also give their input
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen is currently drafting comments in response to a request by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) regarding automation in the railroad industry. The notice was published in the Federal Register on March 22, 2018, and the comments are due no later than May 7, 2018.
Plan ahead for BLET’s Washington D.C. regional meeting
The deadline for room reservations is less than three months away, but BLET members and guests are encouraged to register now for the BLET’s regional meeting at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C., August 13-17, 2018. Also, registration is continuing for the BLET’s Monterey regional meeting, June 18-22, 2018.
Teamster rail unions join with Mexican union to endorse NAFTA improvements
The Teamsters’ rail conferences in the U.S. and Canada today joined with unionized Mexican freight rail workers in calling for the inclusion of language in a revamped North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that would ensure that all industry workers on the continent are treated fairly and equitably.
BLET reaches tentative contract with New England Central
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a Tentative Agreement with the New England Central Railroad (NECR) governing rates of pay, benefits and work rules for 35 operating employees.
Daily Headlines
23 freight cars derail, new vehicles heavily damaged in BNSF derailment in northern Arizona
Authorities are trying to determine the cause of a freight train derailment in northern Arizona that heavily damaged 23 cars and a load of new vehicles. The BNSF train cars were carrying a variety of new cars, vans and trucks.
Vessel buildup grows at West Coast ports as maritime supply chain begins to break
The number of vessels due to dock at the Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach is increasing as labor slowdowns at West Coast port terminals have impacted supply chain operations, from trucks to rails and ocean carriers.
CPKC train derails east of Calgary
Crews are cleaning up after a train derailment about 100 kilometres east of Calgary Thursday afternoon. A spokesperson for Canadian Pacific Kansas City Southern confirmed that “multiple cars of a CPKC freight train carrying intermodal shipping containers” derailed at around 2:30 p.m. east of Cluny, Alberta.
A year after acquisition, CSX making improvements to former Pan Am trackage
CSX Transportation has made major upgrades to Pan Am Railways’ physical plant since acquiring the New England regional a year ago — and there’s more to come as part of its two-year plan.
Stuck BNSF train horn blasts for over an hour in Seattle
Residents near the Magnolia and Interbay neighborhoods of Seattle experienced a bit of an earache on Thursday when a train horn blasted for over an hour. KIRO 7 reached out to BNSF who told us the horn was simply just stuck on an unoccupied train.
AAR reports rail traffic for May and week ending June 3, 2023
Combined U.S. carload and intermodal originations in May 2023 were 2,319,808, down 5.7 percent, or 139,940 carloads and intermodal units from May 2022.
Canadian Pacific guilty of contempt of court in sweeping decision on excessive hours
A federal judge has found Canadian Pacific to be in contempt of court after the company forced train crews to work excessively long hours in violation of a court order to abide by the collective agreement and Transport Canada regulations.
Freight railroad alert raised to “red” as shippers fear more West Coast port tensions
The slowdown in International Longshore and Warehouse Union work at West Coast ports has created a congestion contagion that is spreading to the freight railroads, with uncertain consequences for the supply chain.
Intermodal: “On the decline in 2023”
Both May 2023 and the week ending June 3, 2023 saw U.S. carloads rise and intermodal volume drop compared with the prior-year periods.
CN adjusting operations amid fierce Canadian wildfires
Canadian railway CN is keeping an eye on the wildfires occurring across several provinces and it is adjusting operations as needed, the railway told Freight Waves Wednesday.
