March 27, 2024 | 2-man Crews, C3RS, Legislation, News, PSR, Railroad Safety
On March 13, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Rail Subcommittee hosted a roundtable discussion to examine safety issues in the railroad industry. BLET Vice President & National Legislative Representative Vince Verna represented BLET. During his...
March 20, 2024 | 2-man Crews, Legislation, News, Railroad Safety
A fellow Rail Conference member from the BMWED (wearing red) joined BLET members (from left to right) Ulises Flotte, Div. 20, Ryan Snow, BLET California State Legislative Board Chairman, Jerry Padilla, Div. 660, and Jacob Klatt, BLET Div. 126, at the rally in Los...
March 19, 2024 | 2-man Crews, Legislation, News, Railroad Safety
Virginia Governor Glenn Younkin vetoed a two-person crew bill on March 8, but the fight isn’t over yet. BLET Virginia State Legislative Board Chairman Tim Craver said supporters of the measure are seeking to enlist enough members of both chambers to overturn the veto....
March 18, 2024 | BNSF, Headlines, Railroad Safety
(Source: Reuters, March 15, 2024) Berkshire Hathaway said Warren Buffett raised the pay of his designated successor Greg Abel to $20 million last year, as the conglomerate posted a record operating profit. The company also urged the rejection of six shareholder...
March 14, 2024 | DOT, East Palestine-NS, FRA, Headlines, Railroad Safety
(Source: Associated Press, March 12, 2024) Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has reiterated his concerns about railroad safety and scolded the industry for not doing more to improve since last year’s fiery Ohio derailment. In a new letter to the freight...
March 4, 2024 | BNSF, Furloughs, Headlines, NS, PSR, Railroad Safety, STB
(Source: Associated Press, March 1, 2024) The latest rail layoffs this week, combined with an investment fund’s ongoing campaign for control of Norfolk Southern, are renewing concerns among unions and regulators about the effects all the cuts might have on safety and...
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 26, 2024 | News, NS, Railroad Safety
Want to know more about the BLET’s recently signed Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS) pilot program with Norfolk Southern? Listen to a podcast featuring BLET General Chairman Scott Bunten (Norfolk Southern-Eastern Lines GCA). In the 10-minute discussion...
February 23, 2024 | Canada, Derailment, Headlines, Railroad Safety, Teamsters Canada
(Source: Global News, February 21, 2024) Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC), which represents more than 9,000 rail workers across Canada, is raising concerns about safety following three freight train collisions in B.C. in less than two months. Two TCRC members...
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...
