March 14, 2024 | 2-man Crews, Headlines, Legislation
(Source: Virginia Mercury, March 12, 2024) Virginia’s legislative effort to require two crew members on all trains died after the governor vetoed the legislation on Friday, March 8. Following multiple train derailments in recent years, considerations of a similar...
March 8, 2024 | Headlines, Legislation, Railroad Retirement
(Source: Trains.com, March 6, 2024) The Senate Budget Committee has unanimously voted to advance a bill that would permanently exempt railroad workers’ unemployment and sickness insurance benefits from sequestration cuts, and end current cuts. Industry and labor...
March 7, 2024 | Legislation, News, Railroad Retirement, Take Action
A BLET-backed bill currently making its way through the United States Senate would restore full unemployment and sickness benefits to all railroad workers. For more than 10 years now, individual railroad workers have unfairly had these benefits reduced by about $200...
March 4, 2024 | 2-man Crews, Headlines, Legislation
(Source: Virginia Mercury, March 2, 2024) As the federal government considers requiring two crew members on all trains, similar legislation to increase rail safety statewide passed both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly. Del. Shelly Simonds, D-Newport News,...
February 27, 2024 | Legislation, News, Railroad Safety
Many BLET members were on hand along with Ohio Rep. Sean Brennan to throw their support behind HB 381 that would rename a northeast Ohio highway interchange to honor fallen Brother Lou Shuster. Ohio Ohio State Legislative Board Chairman John Esterly reports that the...
February 22, 2024 | 2-man Crews, Legislation, News, Railroad Safety
Virginia BLET Virginia State Legislative Board Chairman Tim Craver reports progress on the state’s two-person crew bill. Both bills — SB 143 and HB 385 — have passed their respective chambers after their third reading earlier this month. Both are in the legislature’s...
February 15, 2024 | Headlines, Legislation, Railroad Safety, UP
(Source: The Gazette, February 11, 2024) As Colorado lawmakers this month prepare to do something that Congress has been incapable of for more than a year — debate meaningful rail-safety legislation — Union Pacific, state regulators and officials in Grand County are...
February 14, 2024 | 2-man Crews, Legislation, News, Railroad Safety
A filibuster stretching over three days derailed a proposal in Nebraska’s unicameral legislature to require two-person train crews. State Sen. Mike Jacobson sponsored the proposal, which had been introduced multiple times in recent years. This was the first time...
February 8, 2024 | 2-man Crews, Legislation, News, Railroad Safety, Train Length
Virginia State Senator Jennifer D. Carroll Foy (center, maroon), the Chief Patron of SB 143, with the BLET’s Herb Harris (green tie) and Tim Craver (far right) and fellow supporters of the rail safety bill. ____________________ In a follow up to a recent Legislative...
February 8, 2024 | 2-man Crews, Headlines, Legislation, Railroad Safety
(Source: Nebraska Examiner, February 2, 2024) A filibuster stretching over three days derailed a proposal Friday to require two-person crews on trains operated by major railroads in Nebraska. Full story: Nebraska Examiner
