(BLET National President Don Hahs issued the following statement regarding the Labor Day holiday.)
CLEVELAND, August 31 — The annual Labor Day holiday is rooted in the tradition of hard work that has made America the greatest country in the world.
American railroad workers are the most efficient in the world, and it is through your professionalism and dedication that the global economy remains strong.
The history of the labor movement in America is a long and bloody one. Rail workers, including BLET members, played a prominent role in that history — the first Labor Day celebration was in 1882; the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen was founded in 1863. Our members were among the first to lay down their lives and fight for the rights that you enjoy today.
Many Americans — not just railroaders — benefit from the sacrifices made by early rail workers.
Today, the BLET honors their sacrifices by organizing new workers and by negotiating and enforcing good contracts.
Just this year, the BLET organized workers at the Talleyrand Terminal Railroad near Jacksonville, Fla. They join other new members the BLET organized over the past 12 months, including the Huron & Eastern, the Panhandle Northern, and the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic railways.
In terms of contracts, BLET members all across America have ratified strong agreements over the last 12 months, all of which provide superior health care, benefits, and substantial pay. Since Labor Day a year ago, our members have ratified contracts at: SEPTA; Chicago, Fort Wayne & Eastern (CF&E); Grand Trunk Western; CSX Transportation; Metra; Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH); and the New York, Susquehanna & Western. These are all in addition to the national contract, which was ratified in June by at 2-to-1 ratio.
These negotiated benefits provide much-deserved vacation time, paid holidays and time off for our members. These contracts also provide substantial pay for our members. According to recent reports from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, railroad workers — particularly locomotive engineers — are among the highest paid blue collar workers in America.
Thanks to the sacrifices of our founding members, and the ongoing work of the Brotherhood today, BLET members can be proud of the significant role they play in the American economy. I wish each of you a happy, healthy and safe Labor Day.