Rail Industry News
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.
Analysis: Railroads yet to benefit from East Coast intermodal boom
East Coast ports are handling a record number of containers due to ongoing supply chain issues in California and the West, but railroads aren’t seeing this equate to more intermodal volume for a number of reasons.
Fears of rail strike make bad grain year worse
The volume of western Canadian grain exports, already 40 percent behind last year’s pace, could soon hit another roadblock, pending a potential strike involving members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) at CP.
FRA allocates billions in ARP funds for transit service
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) yesterday announced it will award $2.2 billion in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding to 35 recipients in 18 states.
BLET News
FRA just reduced the prospects for a safer railroad industry
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President and John Previsich, SMART TD President On Thursday, May 24, 2019, we were informed that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) had released a notice, withdrawing a 2016 notice of proposed rulemaking establishing a minimum train crew size for most rail freight operations in the United States. This news was not surprising.
Memorial Day 2019
As we observe Memorial Day 2019, I ask all members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen to say a special prayer for the women and men who have given their lives serving in our military and to honor them for defending our country and our way of life.
BLET to host Local Chairman training class, August 11-16, 2019
The BLET Education and Training Department will host a Local Chairman training class from August 11-16, 2019, at the BLET National Division headquarters and Training Center in Independence, Ohio. The class is designed to help Local Chairmen develop and hone the skills necessary to provide the best representation possible to our members.
Open enrollment for the BLET Short Term Disability Enhanced-Plan coverage
There are less than two weeks left in the open enrollment for the BLET’s Short Term Disability Enhanced-Plan underwritten by Sun Life Financial. The open enrollment will end on May 31, 2019 and those who enroll will have their coverage take effect on June 1, 2019.
Fack reelected Oklahoma State Legislative Board Chairman
Brother D. Craig Fack, a member of BLET Division 578 (Tulsa, Okla.), was reelected Chairman of the Oklahoma State Legislative Board during its quadrennial meeting held April 25-26, 2019.
BLET reaches tentative contract with M&NA
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a Tentative Agreement with the Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad (M&NA) governing rates of pay, benefits and work rules for nearly 80 operating employees.
Space remains for June 9-13 Secretary-Treasurer class
Registration is still open for the Secretary-Treasurer training class scheduled for June 9-13, 2019, at the BLET National Division headquarters in Independence, Ohio. Registration has been extended through May 31.
Dave Brown reelected Minnesota State Legislative Board Chairman
David K. Brown was reelected by acclamation to his fourth term as Chairman of the Minnesota State Legislative Board at its 28th Quadrennial Meeting in Bloomington, Minn., April 28-May 1, 2019.
Governor signs two-person crew bill in Nevada
On May 15, organized labor secured a major victory for railroad workers and safety when Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak (D) signed a two-person crew bill into law.
BLET announces new appointments to Safety Task Force
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce today announced new appointments to the BLET Safety Task Force (STF), the rail industry’s first and oldest labor-based accident investigation team. National Secretary-Treasurer Stephen J. Bruno will continue serving as Chairman of the STF, while Brother Carl W. Fields (Division 682, Hammond, Ind.) remains STF Coordinator.
