CLEVELAND, June 6 — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen scored another organizing victory as employees of the Talleyrand Terminal Railroad voted for BLET representation in May.
Located in Jacksonville, Fla. the Talleyrand Marine Terminal operates along 10 miles of track at the Port of Jacksonville, an international trade seaport, and provides direct switching for Norfolk Southern and CSX. The terminal is also minutes from Florida East Coast’s (FEC) intermodal ramp.
John Mullen, the BLET’s Director of Shortlines, led the organizing drive. Other recent BLET organizing victories at short line railroads include the Panhandle Northern; Maine, Montreal & Atlantic; Huron & Eastern; Portland & Western; and the Chicago, Fort Wayne & Eastern.
He thanked BLET National President Don Hahs for his commitment to organizing.
“These newly organized properties keep coming on board because of Presidents Hahs’ continued commitment to the organizing program,” Brother Mullen said. “Through his leadership we been able to make great gains in increasing our membership.”
Brother Mullen also thanked Florida State Legislative Board Chairman Dave Lavery for his key role in the organizing win. He also thanked the Talleyrand employees for voting in favor of the union.
“The BLET will now begin the process of negotiating a contract for the Talleyrand Terminal Railroad employees so they can have the protection, dignity, and respect that comes from a good union contract,” Mullen said.
The Talleyrand Marine Terminal, located at the Port of Jacksonville, is located 21 miles from the Atlantic Ocean on the St. Johns River. The 173-acre terminal has 38 feet of water along its docks and handles South American and Caribbean containerized cargoes, breakbulk commodities such as steel and paper, imported automobiles, frozen and chilled goods and liquid bulk commodities.
The Talleyrand Terminal Railroad is owned by Rail Link, which is a subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Rail Link provides industrial switching and related customer logistics services in 11 states and operates 13 short line railroads. Operations began on July 28, 1996.