BLET Newsroom
The latest comprehensive, up-to-date features and news releases effecting the BLET.
Surface Transportation Reauthorization and BLET priorities
Roughly every five years, Congress takes up “Surface Reauthorization.” This broad legislative package covers various federal surface transportation programs, including funding and federal policy for highways, transit (including commuter railroads), and passenger and...
NBC spotlights BLET cross border fight and following a BLET investigative trip to Eagle Pass and El Paso, the union reaches out to the White House
Video still from NBC's investigative report. NBC 5 DFW image ____________________ On June 6, the NBC affiliate in Dallas-Fort Worth aired an investigative report highlighting BLET’s opposition to Class I railroads being granted waivers that allow Mexican train crews...
Texas: Two BLET-backed bills reach governor’s desk
At the Texas Capitol after passage of HB 1772, from left: Bryce Dondero, TX SLB 1st Vice Chairman; Kameron Sanders, SMART-TD; Rep. Salman Bhojani (Dist. 92); Ben Wright, TXSLB Chairman; and Scott Piekarski, TXSLB Secretary-Treasurer. ____________________ It was a...
Canada: Arbitrator in TCRC, CPKC contract dispute awards 3% raises
A Canadian arbitrator appointed to resolve the contract dispute between members of Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) and CPKC rendered his decision on May 30. The imposed contract provides 3% general wage increases annually for 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027. In...
BLET’s Caltrain members ratify new contract with TASI
BLET members today ratified a new five-year contract with Transit America Services, Inc., (TASI). The agreement covers 68 locomotive engineers who operate passenger trains at Caltrain. Ballots were counted this afternoon. Eighty-four percent of members cast ballots,...
Make plans now to attend BLET’s Western Regional Meeting in Seattle/Bellevue
Registration is now open for the BLET’s Western Regional Meeting in Bellevue, Wash., the week of August 18, 2025. Bellevue is located across Lake Washington from Seattle. Guests will stay at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue, 900 Bellevue Way NE, Wash., 98004, telephone...
Media Archive
Weekly News Recap
National Contract Negotiations
Amtrak
Commuter Rail
BNSF
Canadian National
Canadian Pacific
CSX
Norfolk Southern
Union Pacific
STB
FRA
AAR Freight Trends
NMB
NTSB
OBITUARIES
Daily Headlines
June 2025 RRB Q&A: Unemployment and sickness benefits for railroad employees
A new unemployment and sickness benefit year – the twelve-month period during which the RRB makes benefit payments for days of unemployment and sickness to eligible railroad employees – generally begins each July 1 and ends on June 30 of the next year.
CPKC system cutover triggers service woes in some former KCS locations
Localized congestion, delays, and shipper frustrations follow tech switchover in Louisiana, east Texas, and Mississippi
Smuggling arrest raises questions about Mexican crews moving trains into Texas
Some U.S. workers see Mexican crews bringing trains into South Texas as a threat to American jobs and border security.
Parallel Systems begins testing autonomous cars on G&W short line
The pilot program to evaluate Parallel’s self-propelled container car was launched this week on the Heart of Georgia Railroad
Heartland Flyer service in jeopardy after Texas fails to provide funding
State support for Fort Worth-Oklahoma City not included in $338 billion budget bill
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.
BLET MEMBERSHIP PUBLICATIONS
October 2024
