CLEVELAND, July 17 — Leaders of the BLET, BMWED and Teamsters met with Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood on July 15 to discuss changes to the Hours of Service Law, high speed rail, and a host of additional issues.
The delegation included Teamsters Eastern Region Vice President John Murphy, BLET National President Edward Rodzwicz and BMWED President Fred Simpson.
Also in attendance was: BLET First Vice President Paul Sorrow; BLET National Secretary-Treasurer William Walpert; BLET Vice President & National Legislative Representative John Tolman; BMWED Director of Government Affairs Leon Fenhaus; BMWED Director of Safety Richard Inclima; BLET Director of Research and Assistant to the President Thomas Pontolillo; and BMWED Counsel Donald Griffin.
During the meeting, President Rodzwicz talked about the recent changes to the Hours of Service laws and the impact it would have on BLET members. He also discussed the lack of communication between some carriers and Rail Labor regarding the Hours of Service changes, and asked for the Secretary’s assistance in working with the carriers and unions to achieve the best possible results for BLET members.
BMWED President Simpson discussed roadway worker protection with the Secretary, and the impact it has on his members.
Additionally, the labor leaders discussed high speed rail Secretary LaHood, noting that there have already been 278 proposals for high speed grants made by various entities around the country, which is a sign of the overwhelming demand for high speed rail. The BLET/BMWED/IBT delegation made sure that Secretary LaHood understood the potential impact high speed rail will have on our membership, especially in light of the trends toward contracting out work from the rail labor crafts in commuter rail.
Funding for the Federal Railroad Administration and its on-going safety projects were also discussed, especially in light of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 and the additional responsibility given to the Administration.
“It was a great feeling to have a Secretary of Transportation who really understands the needs of our workers and the importance of railroads to this country,” BLET President Rodzwicz said. “I think the commitment to fund high speed rail by this administration and its vow to protect railroad workers is a refreshing change from the past. I look forward to working with the Secretary and the Federal Railroad Administration in the future.”