Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (seated) after signing the “Stop, Look, and Listen” bill, with Rep. Michele Grim and BLET Ohio SLB Chairman John Esterly.
____________________
In mid-January, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed an important rail safety bill into law — the “Stop, Look, and Listen” bill had the strong support of Teamsters Rail Conference affiliates BLET and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED).
The bill clarifies that other pieces of equipment travel on railroad tracks — not just locomotives — and requires motorists to “Stop, Look, and Listen” for on-track maintenance vehicles and construction equipment. “This bill provides our BMWED brethren in on-track equipment the same legal protections at grade crossings that our members enjoy in the locomotive,” said John Esterly, Chairman of the BLET Ohio State Legislative Board. “Ohio’s version also allows a judge to offer remedial training in lieu of fines or jail time — a piece of the bill that was very important to our board to create an environment of education and not punitive discipline.”
Esterly said he lobbied with his BMWED counterpart Matt Weaver to “move the needle on this critical bill.” Esterly said the unions worked with several members of the Ohio House and Senate to secure passage of the bill, including: Rep. Michele Grim, Rep. James Hoops, Rep. Riordan McClain, Rep Haraz Ghanbari, House Speaker Jason Stephens, Sen. William DeMora, Sen. Stephanie Kunze, and Sen. Nathan Manning. Esterly also recognized former Ohio State Representative Michele Lepore-Hagan for carrying this legislative language in previous General Assemblies prior to her retirement. She is the wife of Bob Hagan, a retired BLET member and former Director of Political and Legislative Affairs.