BLET News
BLET promotes rail safety, craft of locomotive engineer at Illinois State Fair
From left: Chad Clayton, LR of Division 644: Jeff Crane, LR of Division 155; Cory Martin, Illinois SLB Chairman; and Todd Knight, LC of Division 155. _____________________ Members of the BLET represented their union and the craft of locomotive engineer at the...
BLET members unanimously ratify first-ever union contract at Arizona Eastern Railway
In a unanimous vote (22-0), members of the BLET ratified their first contract with the Arizona Eastern Railway (AZER). The previously non-union workers voted to join the BLET in June of 2024. The new five-year agreement establishes rights that BLET members working at...
Union Pacific: BLET “vehemently objects” to railroad’s relocation plans for portions of North Platte home terminal
BLET contends that UP's intent to eliminate North Platte as a home terminal is contractually improper. Photo by Cory Rusch, BLET Division 659 ____________________ The BLET is objecting to a proposed plan presented by Union Pacific to relocate the home terminal for...
Take Action Alert: Call the Pennsylvania State Senate and demand a fix to the mass transit funding crisis
The Pennsylvania State Senate has failed to approve funding for public transit funding across the Commonwealth. Unless the Republican-controlled upper chamber passes legislation, substantial budget cuts will hit the Commonwealth’s 53 transit agencies this month. All...
Rail Safety: FRA disbands Rail Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC)
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has disbanded its Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC), an important venue for labor, management, shippers and Federal regulators to collaboratively discuss and develop rules to improve safety in the railroad industry....
THIS IS YOUR STORY TOO… BE SURE TO JOIN US: A Zoom presentation examining BLET’s history will take place on Sunday, August 17
The locomotive “Nashville” of the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati Railroad with a portrait of Abraham Lincoln mounted on the front. The locomotive was one of several used to carry Lincoln’s body from Washington, D.C., to Springfield, Ill. ____________________ The...
California: Locomotive engineers report too many near misses with pedestrians, criticizes UP for slow-walking public trail to Mossbrae Falls
An increasingly popular attraction north of Dunsmuir, California, Mossbrae Falls draws thousands of tourists each year — many of whom trespass on UP tracks to get there, causing daily stress and trauma for BLET locomotive engineers. Photo by Anurag Jajoo...
BLET backs new legislation to expand passenger rail
The BLET is getting on board with the All Aboard Act. Reintroduced in the United States Senate on July 29 by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), the All Aboard Act would dedicate $200 billion over five years to build high-speed rail, expand existing passenger rail service, and...
BLET members ratify new contract with New York & Atlantic
BLET members on August 6 ratified a new two-year agreement with the New York & Atlantic Railway (NY&A). The new contract extension provides a $1.00 per hour increase to all pay grades effective June 1, 2025, followed by two general wage increases totaling...
SEPTA: BLET opposes deep cuts to mass transit in Pennsylvania that will hit this month unless the state senate acts
While the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has approved mass transit funding, the Senate is still a hold out. BLET's Maurice Landon, far right, spoke at an August 6 rally in Philadelphia to urge the Senate to act. Pictured here, from left: Thomas Cleveland, BLET...
BLET members ratify 3% interim raise with Union Pacific
BLET members today ratified an agreement with the Union Pacific Railroad that will provide a one-time general wage increase of 3% to approximately 6,000 BLET members employed at UP. The interim raise will go into effect on September 1, 2025. The interim raise is...
Will railroaders’ safety be compromised? DOGE using AI to eliminate federal regulations
According to a disturbing report from the Washington Post, the so-called U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is using a new artificial intelligence tool to slash federal regulations, with the goal of eliminating half of Washington’s regulatory mandates by...
Crews from Mexico operating trains on UP’s U.S. rails becomes focus of report by CNBC
In a story about the proposed megamerger between Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific, CNBC reported that Union Pacific’s recent move to operate trains with Mexican national crews on rails within the United States could be a stumbling block for UP as it seeks approval...
Educational loans from the BLET’s Greene Fund available to children of members in good standing
All BLET members with adolescent children going on to higher education, whether it be for trade school, associate, bachelor or graduate degrees, please take notice. The Franklin P. Greene Fund, established in 1956, is an educational loan fund set up to assist the...
Washington, D.C.: Herb Harris reelected to fifth term as Chairman of DC SLB
Officers of the DC SLB, from left: Dorian Potts, Secretary-Treasurer; Jeese Flotte, Second Vice Chairman; Kelly Hamrick, Alternate Secretary-Treasurer, Herbert Harris Jr., Chairman; Carlyle Smith, First Vice Chairman; Christopher Edgerton, Trustee; Ryan Merrill, Div....
Attention members at UP, NY&A and AZER: Please call the National Division if you haven’t received your ballot
The BLET has mailed ballots to members at three different railroads — Union Pacific, New York & Atlantic, and Arizona Eastern Railway — for voting on tentative agreements. A hotline number has been established by the BLET National Division for eligible members who...
Children of BLET members awarded Teamster scholarships
The Teamsters Scholarship Fund (TSF) awarded scholarships to 48 children of BLET members for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. The winning BLET families represent all factions of the union, including members who work at passenger and freight lines as well as short...
Obituary: Steam rail enthusiast and honorary BLET member Ross Rowland passes away
Ross Rowland was a rail enthusiast and a champion for the preservation of steam locomotives for decades. He was named an honorary BLET member in the early 1970s. Photo from the BLET archives ____________________ Ross Rowland, one of only 16 lifetime honorary members...
BLET reaches tentative agreement with New York & Atlantic
The tentative contract includes general wage increases and a potential retention payment. Ballots are due by Wednesday, August 6. Photo by MOBlockLimit on Flickr ____________________ The BLET has reached a tentative agreement with the New York & Atlantic Railway...
Arizona: BLET reaches first tentative agreement for AZER membership
The BLET has reached a tentative five-year agreement with the Arizona Eastern Railway (AZER). If ratified by the members, it would become the first union contract for the formerly non-union workers who voted to join BLET in June 2024. The tentative agreement would...
Daily Headlines
January 19 ceremony to honor UP workers who died in Pecos derailment
The ceremony will take place at the West of the Pecos Museum at 4 p.m.
DOT announces over $1.1 billion in new grants to reduce train-vehicle collisions and blocked rail crossings
The grants for communities in 41 states will fund construction of railroad overpasses and underpasses, helping to reduce the risk of collisions between trains and roadway users and prevent blocked crossings.
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.
