January 15, 2025 | Health & Welfare, Legislation, News, Railroad Retirement, Top News
Different from other unemployment and sickness benefits, railroad worker benefits are fully funded through payroll deduction and not government taxes. The federal government administers the program, but the government doesn’t fund railroad benefits. Therefore, it is...
December 16, 2024 | Health & Welfare, Legislation, News, Top News
On December 11, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), an authorization bill for national defense, which included an amendment for the REEF Act. This provision would fully restore unemployment and...
December 5, 2024 | Health & Welfare, News, Top News
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 $195,100 to $202,900 on January 1, 2025. At the end of 2001, Labor and Management agreed on various...
October 30, 2024 | Health & Welfare, News, Top News
Currently happening until midnight on October 31, 2024, you can enroll or change your Medical or Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA) benefit selections for the 2025 benefit year. Members must enroll in the Health FSA every year — FSA enrollment is not automatic...
October 11, 2024 | Health & Welfare, News, Top News
Though health care costs continue to rise nationally, healthcare premiums and the 15% employee monthly cost-sharing contributions will decrease in 2025 for BLET members covered by the National H&W Plans. Monthly employee cost sharing contributions will decrease by...
June 27, 2024 | Health & Welfare, News
All individuals under the National Railroad Health and Welfare (GA-23000) Plan will have their Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) changed effective January 1, 2025. The Plans will switch from Express Scripts, Inc. to Optum Rx. All covered members, eligible spouses and...
May 30, 2024 | Accident, Health & Welfare, News
In an interview with Ohio’s Dayton Daily News, BLET National Secretary-Treasurer David Estes discussed the psychological trauma that locomotive engineers endure when they are involved in fatal pedestrian or vehicle incidents. It is an all-too-familiar scenario for...
January 5, 2024 | Education and Training, Health & Welfare, Legislation, News, Paid Sick Leave, Railroad Safety, Regional Meetings, Tentative Contract
Happy New Year! As we move forward into 2024, let’s examine the biggest achievements of the BLET’s five major departments in 2023: Protective, Legislative, Education & Training, Organizing, and Public Relations. Please enjoy our Year in Review!...
December 14, 2023 | 2-man Crews, Health & Welfare, News, Paid Sick Leave, PSR
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, HBO’s weekly late-night television program which takes a satirical look at news and current events, devoted all of its most recent broadcast to “freight trains.” Prior to the episode premiering on Sunday, December 10, BLET...
October 27, 2023 | Health & Welfare, News
From now until midnight on October 31, 2023, you can enroll or change your Medical or Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA) benefit selections for the 2024 benefit year. Members must enroll in the Health FSA every year — FSA enrollment is not automatic each year, and...
