The BLET notched its first organizing win of 2025 as employees at Watco voted to join the BLET in an election certified by the National Mediation Board on February 26. Watco owns and operates 45 regional short line railroads throughout the United States, and the organizing win marks the BLET’s first success at Watco. Twenty-three Watco employees will now have the strength of the BLET as they negotiate their first-ever union contract. BLET National Vice President Randy Fannon, who heads the BLET Organizing Department, led the organizing drive with assistance from Watco employee Tandi Colibert.
This is BLET’s eighth organizing victory since mid-2023. Most of those wins have been at short line railroads. Workers at short line railroads who voted for BLET representation generally cite improved pay, better working conditions, and stronger protections from discipline that come from a union contract as the reasons for choosing BLET.
If you know someone at a short line railroad who would like to help form a union please contact the BLET Organizing Department at organizing@ble-t.org.