The BLET secured more organizing victories over the last two years than in the previous seven years combined. Between 2023-2025 the union successfully organized workers at 14 new railroads.
BLET’s most recent organizing victory came in December 2025, when workers at the D&I Railroad, which operates in South Dakota and Iowa, voted to join BLET. Similar to workers at other newly-organized BLET properties, the D&I workers sought out BLET to help secure better pay and benefits, improvements to working conditions, and an enforceable union contract.
Rank-and-file BLET members have played a critical role in these organizing wins. Every member of the BLET is a potential organizer. Some of the union’s organizing victories have come directly from tips provided by BLET members employed at other railroads. If you know of family, friends, or former co-workers who are railroaders employed at a non-union railroad who would like to be represented by BLET, contact the Organizing Department at organizing@ble-t.org.