BLET Newsroom
The latest comprehensive, up-to-date features and news releases effecting the BLET.
Split Decision: Unions for Railroad Engineers and Conductors Take Different Routes in Freight Rail Contract Ratification Vote
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen vote to ratify national rail agreement with the nation’s Class I railroads; operating craft (Train & Engine service) members of the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet...
BLET members to begin voting November 1 on tentative national agreement
Ballots will be mailed Monday, October 31, to approximately 24,000 BLET members and voting will begin on November 1 regarding the tentative national agreement. Ballots are due on November 20 by 11:59 p.m. ET.
BLET President Pierce statement on House vote to provide paid sick days to all railroad workers
Passed today, House Concurrent Resolution 119, was approved by a vote of 221 in favor, 207 opposed. This bill provides seven days of paid sick leave for ALL unionized rail workers working at Class I railroads.
BLET Members: Contact your Congressman Today To Pass Paid Sick Leave for ALL Railroad Employees!
We urge all BLET Members, Auxiliary and families to immediately contact their Congressional Representative and ask them to pass legislation currently under consideration on the House floor providing paid sick leave to ALL Union represented rail workers.
GA-46000 Lifetime maximum adjusted for 2023
The lifetime maximum benefit for the Railroad Employees National Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit Plan (also known as ERMA or GA-46000) will increase from $182,700 to $188,000 on January 1, 2023.
Thanksgiving 2022
In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, I wish to express my heartfelt thanks to each and every member of our proud Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. You are indeed what makes the BLET the leading Rail Labor union in the United States, and your dedication makes the American economy the strongest in the world.
National Contract Negotiations
Amtrak
Commuter Rail
BNSF
Canadian National
Canadian Pacific
CSX
Norfolk Southern
Union Pacific
STB
FRA
AAR Freight Trends
NMB
NTSB
Daily Headlines
Class I employment up in October 2022
Class Is employed 118,208 people as of mid-October, a 0.53% increase from mid-September employment levels and a 3.53% increase year over year, according to Surface Transportation Board data.
STB sets hearing on UP’s embargo practice
The Surface Transportation Board yesterday announced that it will hold a public hearing Dec. 13-14 with Union Pacific Railroad pertaining to the Class I’s increased use of embargoes as a way to reduce rail traffic congestion.
CSX seeks FRA approval to use Trip Optimizer’s automatic start and stop feature
CSX Transportation is awaiting regulatory approval to become the first railroad to use Trip Optimizer’s Zero-to-Zero function, which allows the advanced cruise control system to automatically start and stop freight trains.
FRA grants safety waiver, aiding effort to open LIRR terminal under Grand Central
The Federal Railroad Administration will grant a waiver allowing the Long Island Rail Road to open its route to the new Grand Central Madison terminal without installation of equipment to prevent Amtrak trains from inadvertently taking the wrong route, the New York Post reports.
U.S. Senators call for coal representation on STB committee
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has asked the Surface Transportation Board to appoint representatives of the coal industry to the board’s Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee.
Q&A: Credit for military service under the Railroad Retirement Act
Many railroad employees have served in the Armed Forces of the United States. Under certain conditions, their military service may be creditable as railroad service under the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA).
One day of Warren Buffett wealth gains could cover rail workers’ paid sick leave
Billionaire Warren Buffett, one of the wealthiest men in the world and the CEO of BNSF Railway’s parent company, saw his wealth jump by nearly $1.4 billion in a single day earlier this week, a sum that could easily fund 15 days of paid sick leave for every rail worker in the United States.
Editorial: Thinking about our railroaders as strike looms
In North Platte, we don’t see political parties when we see our railroader neighbors. We see people who deserve respect and care for their health and well-being. Just as we all do.
Bernie Sanders calls out Warren Buffett for getting richer as rail workers fight for better working conditions
Sen. Bernie Sanders has called out Warren Buffett for making billions of dollars, while rail employees are fighting for paid sick leave and better working conditions.
BLET MEMBERSHIP PUBLICATIONS
August / September 2022
