Rail Industry News
Canada, U.S. shippers brace for possible TCRC strike at CP
Thousands of workers at Canada’s second-biggest railway, Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd., have threatened to strike this week, potentially disrupting the movement of grain, potash and coal at a time of soaring commodity prices.
BNSF and NS declare impasse over crew size
SMART-TD and the involved General Committees intend to continue to demonstrate the significant problems with the carriers’ plans and the current technology that carriers believe allows for a redeployment of conductors to ground-based positions.
STB wants parties to address Amtrak Gulf Coast matters prior to April hearing
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has directed Amtrak, CSX, Norfolk Southern Railway and related parties to be prepared to address several issues at the April 4 evidentiary hearing on Amtrak’s proposal to introduce Gulf Coast intercity passenger-rail service.
TTD President Greg Regan testifies at Senate hearing on transit labor wins in bipartisan infrastructure bill
TTD and our 36 affiliated unions have long called for the historic investments that were finally delivered in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Rail transit and COVID-19, two-year mark
It is now been two years since we felt the impact of the COVID-19 virus and our lives changed, possibly forever.
“Completely demoralized:” U.S. railroad workers pushed to the brink
“We feel stabbed in the back, completely demoralized with the work we did through the pandemic, understanding the situation, going the extra mile, and doing what we’re asked to do, and then some without complaint,” said the worker.
North American Class I rail carriers slammed for profiteering from congestion crisis
The large North American railways cannot shake off accusations of profiteering from supply chain congestion. Like ocean carriers, they have allegedly raised and imposed demurrage fees to boost profits.
Jennifer Mitchell to serve FRA as Deputy Administrator
Jennifer Mitchell is moving on from her position as Director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation to join the Federal Railroad Administration in April as Deputy Administrator.
Teamsters honor General President Hoffa at scholarship fund dinner
More than a thousand attendees joined together for the 2022 James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund Dinner in Los Angeles to honor Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa as he approaches the end of his final term as the head of the 1.4 million-member union.
Federal mediators hope to avert TCRC strike at CP
Government mediators were expected to resume meetings today with the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference and Canadian Pacific Railway in hopes of averting a looming strike.
Newly installed cameras put a stop to cargo train thefts in Northeast L.A.
Union Pacific appears to be announcing a victory in thwarting further thefts. Not by rehiring the security it laid off, but by automating their jobs.
Ukrainian Railways cancels tender for 80 EMUs
Ukrainian Railways (UZ) has cancelled a Hryvnia 31.4bn ($US 1.18bn) tender for a fleet of 80 suburban and regional trains launched last year. UZ said that the tender will resume at an increased pace following the end of hostilities in the country.
Railroads say unions’ request to end mediation is premature
The organization representing railroads in bargaining with labor over a new national contract is disputing a request by unions to move the process from mediation to arbitration, saying the two sides have not yet reached an impasse.
Class Is employed fewer people in January
U.S. Class Is employed 111,754 people in mid-January, down 2.4% from December 2021 and down 1.5% compared with employment during the same period a year ago, according to STB data.
Crude by rail key for Canada as oil booms
With a ban on Russian oil imports leaving the U.S. short on supply, Canada’s energy heartland is making it clear it’s ready to step up and fill that void. Experts say we’re likely to see crude-by-rail shipments to the U.S. ramping back up to meet demand.
NTSB report details fatal 2021 Arizona accident involving UP track worker
The failure of an operator to stop a tie tamping machine contributed to the death of a track worker struck by the tamper, the NTSB determined in an accident report released March 10.
CP gets an “A” for sixth straight year as Amtrak host railroad
Amtrak has recognized Canadian Pacific for earning an industry-leading “A” grade for the sixth-consecutive year on Amtrak’s annual Host Railroad Report Card, which ranks freight railroads for keeping Amtrak trains on time.
Fertilizer Canada calls for a swift resolution to avoid CP strike
If a resolution is not reached promptly a strike is set for March 16 at midnight, with services anticipated to slowdown March 13.
Here’s what could be ahead for CP as Ackman’s Pershing Square returns
Pershing Square, managed by Bill Ackman, has been watching Canadian Pacific, looking for a good entry point for investment. The opportunity now presented itself in the form of the Canadian Pacific/Kansas City Southern merger.
AAR reports rail traffic for the week ending March 5, 2022
For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 505,177 carloads and intermodal units, down 1.9 percent compared with the same week last year.
BLET News
Psota elected BNSF/MRL General Chairman
Kent J. Psota was elected to the office of General Chairman at the Burlington Northern Santa Fe/Montana Rail Link (BNSF/MRL) General Committee of Adjustment’s 15th triennial meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, July 8-11, 2019.
Semenek reelected to third full term as CP Rail General Chairman
General Chairman Peter M. Semenek was reelected by acclamation at the CP Rail-U.S./Metra Northern District/Indiana Southern/Dakota Minnesota & Eastern General Committee of Adjustment’s quadrennial meeting in Las Vegas, June 10-11, 2019.
Urgent: Act Now On Two-Person Train Crews, Mexican Cross-Border Issue!
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) is urging all members to contact their Representatives and Senators in Congress to support the union’s two most pressing legislative issues: two-person train crews and foreign crews operating trains into the United States at the southern U.S./Mexican border.
BLET kicks off Clearwater regional meeting
More than 300 members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and their families convened here this morning for opening ceremonies of the BLET’s second regional meeting of 2019.
Fleischmann elected New York State Legislative Board Chairman
Brother William J. Fleischmann, BLET Division 752 (Rensselaer, N.Y.), was elected by acclamation to serve as Chairman of the New York State Legislative Board at its quadrennial meeting in Lake George, N.Y., July 12-13, 2019.
Victory in New Jersey
Rail Labor scored a major victory for railroad workers in New Jersey on June 26 when Governor Phil Murphy signed the “New Jersey Transit Corporation Employee Protection Act” into law. The law prohibits NJ Transit from asserting sovereign immunity to escape rail worker lawsuits under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) and other federal rail statutes.
BLET kicks off St. Louis regional meeting
More than 300 members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and their families convened here on the morning of June 25 for opening ceremonies of the BLET’s first regional meeting of 2019.
Two-person crew bill (S. 1979) introduced in United States Senate
A two-person crew bill was introduced in the United States Senate on June 26. The Safe Freight Act (S. 1979), a companion bill to H.R. 1748 in the U.S. House of Representatives, would promote rail safety by mandating at least two-person crews on all freight trains in the United States. The bill was introduced by Senators Edward J. Ma
BLET members ratify new contract with M&NA short line
On June 20, members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with the Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad. The agreement runs through 2023 and provides for improved wages and benefits for approximately 70 operating employees. Members will receive a signing bonus as well as a significant wage increase upfront and through the life of the contract. Most significantly, the agreement contains no harmful work rule changes to either the engineer or trainman crafts.
BLET reaches tentative contract with SEPTA
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative agreement with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) governing rates of pay and benefits for more than 200 locomotive engineers.
