INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, March 30 — As part of the National Division’s recently enhanced website, and in response to action taken by delegates at the Fourth National Convention, the BLET National Division has launched an electronic delivery option for members who receive the Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen News and the Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen Journal. Members who prefer to receive the publications in print will continue to do so; those who don’t can update their preferences to view the publications in electronic-only format.
At the Fourth National Convention, delegates adopted a change to the Bylaws submitted by BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce to allow members to opt-out of receiving hard copy publications in the mail and switch to electronic versions of the publications. At the time, President Pierce cited the increasing cost of printing and postage as reasons for introducing the electronic-only option. The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing supply chain crisis have exacerbated those issues, with the cost of paper rising dramatically in the past 12 months. Per BLET Bylaws, members receive two periodic publications titled Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen Journal and Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen News. The electronic delivery option applies to these two publications only.
The launch of the print opt-out program is now available using the newly-redesigned BLET website. To opt-out of BLET publications in print, members will need to go to the Members Only area of the BLET website, click on the “Update Personal Information” option, and then select “Publication Delivery Preference.” Those who opt-out will be alerted by email whenever new publications are available in electronic format.
First published in January of 1867 as the Locomotive Engineers’ Monthly Journal, the Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen Journal is one of the oldest labor publications in the Western Hemisphere. First published in 1987 as the Locomotive Engineer Newsletter, the Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen News contains essential news about the Brotherhood and the rail industry.
“Our publications are among the best ways for members to stay informed and educated about the issues we face, which are the keys to the success of our union,” President Pierce said. “The forward-thinking vote by delegates in 2018 combined with the recent launch of our new website made this a perfect time to start our opt-out campaign. I encourage all members to take advantage of the electronic-only program for our publications.”