At the 2023 BLET Western Regional Meeting, from left: Eddie Hall, BLET President; Robert Primus, STB; Mark Wallace, First VP; and Dave Estes, National S-T.
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On May 11, President Biden named Robert Primus as the new Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board. Primus replaces outgoing Chairman Martin Oberman who retired on May 10. Earlier this year, the BLET secured unanimous support from all of organized Rail Labor to advocate for Primus to succeed Oberman as Chairman.
“Mr. Primus is a true friend to Rail Labor and an asset to the Surface Transportation Board and our country,” the coalition of 13 Rail Labor unions wrote in a joint letter sent in January to President Biden. “He has made a singularly positive difference in the lives of our members and, as Chairman, we are confident that he will continue to move the Surface Transportation Board forward to further strengthen our nation’s freight and passenger rail networks.”
Last summer, Primus and Oberman were featured speakers at the BLET’s regional meeting in Milwaukee. Both men were instrumental in bringing rail labor to the table in April 2022 when the STB held public hearings to investigate the negative impacts of Precision Scheduled Railroading on the rail industry. The STB is the federal agency charged with the economic regulation of various modes of surface transportation, primarily freight rail.
A copy of the letter sent on behalf of Primus is available here (PDF).