Rail Industry News
Q&A: RRB reports performance under customer service plan
The Railroad Retirement Board’s Customer Service Plan promotes the following principles of quality public service: openness, accessibility, accountability, feedback, and timeliness standards.
Get the latest labor news from the Teamsters
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters updates the news section of its website each day with the latest regarding the Teamsters, domestic and global labor and trade issues, state and living wage battles, social justice, the War on Workers, and many other important...
Rail unions are bargaining over a good job made miserable
Contract negotiations covering 115,000 rail workers in the U.S. are expected to heat up in 2022. In the flurry of reporting on what’s slowing down the supply chain, little has been said about one contributing factor — the years-long squeeze that major railroads have put on their operations and workforces.
BLET, SMART-TD take attendance policy grievances to Buttigieg, Walsh
Two major rail unions are taking their concerns about attendance programs at BNSF and other Class I railroads to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Labor Secretary Martin Walsh, saying that employees are pressured to take on work even though they’re fatigued.
Jan. 2022 rail traffic down compared to Jan. 2021
Combined U.S. carload and intermodal originations in January 2022 were 1,903,708, falling 9.5%, or 199,657 carloads and intermodal units, from January 2021.
Teamsters testify at Congressional hearing on automated vehicles
Automation and the future of the work force is a topic of great importance to Teamsters, transportation workers and the American public.
UP to use driverless trucks for first-mile/last-mile service
This spring, Union Pacific (UP) will start moving freight on an 80-mile, fully automated trucking route between a rail yard in Tucson and a high-volume distribution center outside of Phoenix.
This Black History Month, the Teamsters recommit to justice for all
Black history is American history. But throughout our nation’s long existence, it has been overlooked and glossed over, often not considered important enough to teach in schools. That’s why celebrating Black History Month every February is so essential – it focuses on what for many are the untold stories of great Americans that were disregarded because of the color of their skin.
Q&A: RRB reports performance under customer service plan
The Railroad Retirement Board’s Customer Service Plan promotes the following principles of quality public service: openness, accessibility, accountability, feedback, and timeliness standards.
Get the latest labor news from the Teamsters
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters updates the news section of its website each day with the latest regarding the Teamsters, domestic and global labor and trade issues, state and living wage battles, social justice, the War on Workers, and many other important...
STB sets the stage for Amtrak Gulf Coast hearing
The STB yesterday announced details for the upcoming hearing on Amtrak’s application to reintroduce passenger-rail service along part of the Gulf Coast.
Alabama Port Authority announces new inland intermodal facility, CSX intermodal service from Mobile
The Alabama Port Authority will build an intermodal container transfer facility in Montgomery, Ala., to be served by CSX Transportation, after the authority’s board of directors approved a $2.042 million purchase of 272 acres for the new inland terminal to serve traffic from the Port of Mobile.
Five suspects arrested for burglarizing rail cars in Torrance, Calif.
Five people have been arrested for allegedly burglarizing train cars in Torrance, police said Tuesday.
Colorado county plans to challenge approval of Utah rail line
Eagle County officials are launching an effort to keep rail cars filled with crude oil off the rail line that runs along the Colorado River through much of western Colorado.
Derailed NS train cleared in Bluefield, but cause still undetermined
A railroad line passing through Bluefield, Va. has reopened after a derailment that closed it early Monday morning was cleared.
Part 2 of 5: More opponents line up to block Texas high-speed rail
A landowner in rural Texas is locked in a legal battle with the companies that are planning to build the Texas Central high-speed rail (HSR) project, which would establish a line between downtown Dallas and the intersection of two highways northwest of Houston.
Q&A: RRB reports performance under customer service plan
The Railroad Retirement Board’s Customer Service Plan promotes the following principles of quality public service: openness, accessibility, accountability, feedback, and timeliness standards.
Get the latest labor news from the Teamsters
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters updates the news section of its website each day with the latest regarding the Teamsters, domestic and global labor and trade issues, state and living wage battles, social justice, the War on Workers, and many other important...
Class I railroad employee COVID-19 infections and quarantines hit pandemic high
The combined number of Class I employees sidelined due to the pandemic — 4,183 — broke the prior record of 4,100 set in the week ending Jan. 9, 2021.
COVID surge sidelined 125 NJ Transit trains last month
The recent surge in COVID-19 cases took a toll on NJ Transit service last month when the agency was forced to cancel 125 trains as more front-line employees tested positive.
BLET News
BLET congratulates new RRB members, salutes outgoing Labor Member Walt Barrows
On January 2, 2019, the U.S. Senate confirmed the nominations of three new members to the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board: Erhard R. Chorle, Chairman; Thomas Jayne, Management Member; and Jonathan Bragg, Labor Member.
BLET Advisory Board installed
On January 1, 2019, a new Advisory Board began its four-year term of office for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET). National President Dennis R. Pierce convened the Advisory Board on January 1 while retired National Vice President Gil Gore administered the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Oath of Office to all newly elected Officers. The BLET National Division term of office began on January 1, 2019, and runs through December 31, 2022.
BLET members ratify 2-year pact with CN-WC
December 28, members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) overwhelmingly ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with Canadian National’s Wisconsin Central subsidiary (CN-WC). The two-year agreement governs rates of pay, benefits and work rules for over 600 members.
Important Changes to the BLET Short-Term Disability Program
Effective January 1, 2019, Sun Life Financial will be replacing MetLife as the insurance carrier for The BLET’s Short-Term Disability Program (“STD Program”). Sun Life Financial (located at One Sun Life Executive Park, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481) is one of America’s leaders in group insurance plans and holds an A+ (“Superior”) ranking from A.M. Best.
BLET members ratify new contract with CF&E
On December 27, members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with the Chicago, Fort Wayne & Eastern Railway (CF&E). The agreement governs rates of pay, benefits and work rules for about 40 members.
Former BLET Vice President Willard Knight, 1951-2018
President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, passed away peacefully on December 20, 2018, following a long and courageous battle with cancer.
James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund begins accepting applications from sons and daughters of Teamsters for 2019
The 2019 application process for the James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund (JRHMSF) is now open. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2019.
BLET to hold ST training class for LM-2 filers
The BLET Education and Training Department will conduct a training class for all Secretary-Treasurers who file LM-2 reports for their General Committee of Adjustment (GCA), Division or State Legislative Board (SLB). The training will take place in San Antonio, Texas, from February 26-28, 2019.
BLET reaches two tentative agreements with Wheeling & Lake Erie
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached two tentative agreements with the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway (W&LE) — one for the craft of locomotive engineer and one for the craft of trainman. The proposed agreements govern work rules, rates of pay, and health & welfare issues for approximately 75 locomotive engineers and over 130 trainmen.
Laveing new Chairman of Pennsylvania State Legislative Board
Brother Tim M. Laveing was elected by acclamation to serve as Chairman of the BLET’s Pennsylvania State Legislative Board at its fourth quadrennial meeting in Hershey, Pa., on September 10, 2018.
