BLET News
NJT LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS ON STRIKE
In accordance with the terms of the Railway Labor Act, NJ Transit’s 450 engineers and trainees will be on strike starting Friday, May 16.
Pat Darcy reelected General Chairman of Amtrak GCA
Pat Darcy was reelected to the office of General Chairman at the Amtrak General Committee of Adjustment’s (GCA) quadrennial meeting in San Antonio, Texas, on May 6, 2025.
Brian Farkas reelected General Chairman of CSXT-Northern Lines GCA
General Chairman Brian Farkas was reelected last week during the CSXT-Northern Lines General Committee of Adjustment’s quadrennial meeting at the National Division headquarters in Independence, Ohio.
Take Action: Don’t let railroads give our jobs away to Mexico
Two Class I railroads are moving forward with plans to take jobs away from American train crews by bringing trains from Mexico into the United States using Mexican train crews. BLET members are urged to inform Congress about this risky situation and ask for their help in stopping this job giveaway.
BLET reaches tentative agreement with CSXT
Nearly 3,500 BLET members at CSXT will receive detailed information about the tentative agreement soon, and a ratification vote is scheduled to begin later this month.
The Brave Engineer: BLET honors legacy of Casey Jones on 125th anniversary of fatal train crash
April 30 marked the 125th anniversary of the fatal train wreck that made Casey Jones a household name. Most people have heard of the brave locomotive engineer named Casey Jones through popular culture. But not everyone knows that he was, in fact, a member of our...
BLET, NJ Transit Update: Clock ticks toward May 16 strike deadline
The National Mediation Board (NMB) has summoned the BLET and NJ Transit back to Washington D.C. for a last-ditch effort to reach a contract settlement ahead of this week’s strike deadline. The parties will meet on Monday, May 12. A strike or lock-out could begin as...
Watch this: BLET-produced television ad about NJT contract battle to hit the airwaves
The BLET National Division has produced a television commercial on behalf of its NJ Transit members, which will run on cable in New Jersey next week. The ad outlines the union’s position on locomotive engineer wages in advance of a potential strike or lock-out at NJT...
BLET marks 162nd anniversary in 2025
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) marks its 162nd anniversary on May 8. The BLET and its members are proud of our heritage as the oldest labor union in North America. Our union was founded as the Brotherhood of the Footboard on May 8, 1863,...
New York: BLET reaches tentative agreement with WNYP
The BLET has reached a tentative five-year agreement with the Western New York & Pennsylvania (WNYP) Railroad, governing rates of pay, benefits, and work rules. If approved by the membership, the tentative agreement will run through 2030. It provides for a...
California State Legislative Board begins long haul effort to pass rail safety bill
Members of the BLET’s State Legislative Board in California have launched a two-year plan to lobby for passage of a rail safety bill. Introduced this year, Senate Bill 667 would set train length limits of 7,500 feet and require installation of wayside detectors every...
BLET testifies that recent rash of rail cargo thefts are made worse by PSR
BLET Division 28 President Eddie Strom was in Washington D.C. to represent BLET at a roundtable discussion about rail cargo thefts. ____________________ The BLET provided a working railroader’s perspective on the growing trend of rail cargo thefts at a Congressional...
A special message from BLET National President Mark Wallace
It’s my honor and privilege to serve as the new National President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. Like many of you, I come from a family of railroaders. My father started his railroad career 65 years ago and the BLET has been an important...
Pittsburgh: BLET reaches tentative contract with Union Railroad
The BLET has reached a tentative agreement with the Union Railroad of Pittsburgh, Pa. The deal governs pay, benefits, and work rules. If approved by the members, the contract will run through July of 2028 and provides for a $500 signing bonus and general wage...
New Orleans: General Chairmen conclude annual meeting
Members of the BLET’s National General Chairmen’s Association (NGCA) concluded their 2025 annual meeting on April 24. The NGCA meets annually for the purpose of carrying on concerted movements related to wages, working conditions, education, training, sharing...
New York: It’s time to settle LIRR contract
Trains don’t run themselves — that’s the message from BLET members to New York Governor Kathy Hochul and members of the State Senate and Assembly. The BLET, along with four other rail unions — BRS, IAM, TCU, and IBEW — are involved in contract negotiations with the...
Illinois State Legislative Board conducts training for Division Legislative Representatives
Seated, from left: Brandon Stewart, Div. 96 and Illinois SLB 1st Vice Chairman; Cory Martin Illinois SLB Chairman; Reggie Hill, Div. 131; and Al Denton, Div. 118. Standing, from left: Chez Walker, Div. 404; Anthony Davis, Div. 815; Chuck Grigsby, Div. 602 and Illinois...
Workers Memorial Day 2025: Commemorating workers who died on the job, including two BLET members
Each year on April 28, unions including the BLET recognize Workers Memorial Day and remember American workers who have suffered and died on the job. On Workers Memorial Day the BLET honors two of our members who tragically passed away while on the job in the past...
Register today: Hotel reservations for Daytona Beach regional meeting must be made by May 14
“Start your engines…” Daytona Beach, Florida — famous for wide beaches and auto racing — is the site of the union’s 2025 Eastern Regional Meeting. BLET members are encouraged to make their reservations as soon as possible for the meeting, which is scheduled for the...
Utah: Tariff war with China hurts BLET members at UP, PHL after closure of iron ore mine
Citing the recent tariff trade war with China, an iron ore mine in Utah closed so suddenly that workers found out on Facebook that they no longer had jobs. The mine had supplied Chinese steelmakers with iron ore. The indefinite closure of Iron Ore LLC’s mine in Cedar...
Daily Headlines
Border agency seeks to close security gaps on rail exports to Canada, Mexico
Proposed rule includes penalties of up to $100,000 for each violation.
2 killed, 3 injured when UP train derails in Pecos, TX, after collision
BLET President Eddie Hall said the derailment “should serve as a wake-up call to legislators to improve rail safety.”
January 6, 2025, marks 20th anniversary of Graniteville tragedy
BLET locomotive engineer Chris Seeling was killed in the crash on January 6, 2005. He was 47 years old.
A NJ Transit rail strike could be coming soon
A second Presidential Emergency Board, #252, is evaluating both sides of the argument.
NS line to Asheville, N.C., to be closed until March 2025
Reopening will include 12 miles east of Asheville, N.C; Old Fort Loops segment still being inspected
Analysis: Railroads head into 2025 with headcount momentum to support growth
CSXT, BNSF Railway, and Union Pacific have larger T&E rosters than they did a year ago. Norfolk Southern’s year-over-year T&E roster is down 6%.
Wyoming and Montana seek to reverse decision that would end Powder River Basin coal leases
The move came after a federal court ordered the agency to re-evaluate its environmental review criteria to include both limited leasing and no coal leasing options.
Railroads ramp up the use of artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is weaving itself into the daily operations of big U.S. railroads, helping managers make data-backed decisions about operating plans and identify trends among virtually any t process.
Supreme Court to hear argument on new U.S. rail line
The 88-mile Uinta Basin Railway would connect Utah oil fields to the national rail network, enabling up to 350,000 barrels of crude oil per day to travel on trains as long as two miles.
The decline of North America’s hump yards
Only 36 left, hump yards remain enormously important to the carload network
