January 22, 2025 | Contract Negotiations, News, Short Line, Top News
Less than a month after securing an organizing win at the Utah Central Railway, the BLET hit the ground running with its newest members. BLET National Vice President James Logan Jr., who now leads the BLET’s Short Line Department, traveled to Utah to help the nation’s...
January 21, 2025 | Contract Negotiations, News, Top News
NEWARK, N.J., January 21 — A non-binding decision announced this week by Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) 252, assigned to the dispute between the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and New Jersey Transit (NJT), sets the clock ticking for...
January 21, 2025 | FRA, News, Top News
Amit Bose was honored for his dedication to rail safety at a reception in Washington, D.C., on January 14. Bose is stepping down from his role as head of the Federal Railroad Administration, a position he has held since early 2022. Under his leadership, the FRA...
January 20, 2025 | News, Top News
On January 10, BLET Division 71 member Jacqueline Y. Pettyjohn operated her last SEPTA train from Philadelphia International Airport to Suburban Station, in center city Philadelphia. Pettyjohn not only completed the run, she also capped her 40-year career, where she...
January 20, 2025 | News, Tentative Contract, Top News
The BLET has reached a tentative contract with Keolis Commuter Services for locomotive engineers working at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in Boston. The tentative agreement governs rates of pay, benefits and work rules for 194 members. Ballots...
January 16, 2025 | FRA, News, Railroad Safety, Top News
Class I railroads are failing workers and making railroads less safe due to overly harsh employee discipline policies. That’s according to the December 20 letters from the heads of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Occupational Safety and Health...
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...
January 14, 2025 | Derailment, Fatality, Memorials, News, Obituary, Top News
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, January 19, to honor the two Union Pacific workers who were killed in last month’s train derailment in Pecos, Texas. The ceremony is open to the public and will be held at the West of the Pecos Museum at 4:00 p.m. (120 E....
January 14, 2025 | Derailment, Fatality, News, Top News
January 6 marked 20 years since the fatal derailment of a Norfolk Southern train and the related chemical spill in Graniteville, South Carolina that led to nine deaths including a BLET member, Chris Seeling. In addition to those who lost their lives, more than 500...
January 13, 2025 | News, Top News
From left: BLET Division 601 member Rich Carl and Division 601 Local Chairman Phil Burgos in the cab of the Conrail Santa Train. ____________________ The BLET National Division wishes every member and their family a happy and healthy 2025. This issue of the Weekly...
