Rail Industry News
Rail traffic down for 3rd straight week to kick off 2022
Total U.S. weekly rail traffic came in at 477,462 carloads and intermodal units, decreasing 9.8% from the same week in 2021; it is the third consecutive week that traffic has fallen.
Norfolk Southern’s Q4 2021 profit up 13% on higher rates
NS delivered 13% greater profit in the fourth quarter — even though the amount of cargo it transported declined — because it was able to raise rates.
TCI’s railroading tactics
There are two ways to win an activist battle: dominate or compromise.
Hoffa: Teamsters laud the America Competes Act
The bill would reinvigorate technological research and development in the face of competition with China.
LA-LV high-speed rail makes progress
Brightline West, the planned private-sector high-performance passenger railroad, is moving toward its goals of bringing passengers to Las Vegas and giving them a way to get there from Los Angeles.
UP bumps up security after cargo thefts near LA rail yard
Robert Vega and his friends talked over beers and the beeping clamor of a nearby excavator after work Friday behind their auto dismantling shop in Lincoln Heights, east of downtown.
RRB Q&A: Annuitants may need to increase tax withholding at age 62
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, December 21, 2021) CHICAGO — Certain portions of a railroad retirement annuity are treated differently for Federal income tax purposes. The following questions and answers explain these differences and address the...
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...
NS reports Q4 and full-year 2021 results
Norfolk Southern Corporation today reported fourth-quarter and full-year 2021 financial results which included fourth-quarter and full-year records for income from railway operations and operating ratio.
CN reports Q4 2021 results
CN today reported its financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2021.
New Board Member Hamilton sworn in, assumes position with NMB
The National Mediation Board (NMB) is pleased to announce the arrival of new Board Member, Deirdre Hamilton. Ms. Hamilton was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 7, 2021. She was sworn in and assumed her position with the NMB on January 25, 2022.
DOT to STB: “Set a precedent” in Amtrak Gulf Coast case
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) have been allowed to file additional comments with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) regarding Amtrak’s application to operate Gulf Coast service.
CN names new CEO, resolves dispute with activist investor
Canadian National railroad on Tuesday named a new CEO and also reached an agreement with the investment fund that has been pushing it to focus more on cutting costs and streamlining its operations.
RRB appoints Director of Equal Opportunity
The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has named Shiri Ndang as its Director of Equal Opportunity, effective January 17, 2022.
RRB Q&A: Annuitants may need to increase tax withholding at age 62
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, December 21, 2021) CHICAGO — Certain portions of a railroad retirement annuity are treated differently for Federal income tax purposes. The following questions and answers explain these differences and address the...
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...
National contract talks head for mediation after impasse
Contract talks between the biggest freight railroads and unions that represent 105,000 employees are headed to mediation this week after the unions declared an impasse following more than two years of negotiations.
Will BNSF workers strike? U.S. judge in Fort Worth to rule
A federal court in Fort Worth will decide Tuesday whether to block a threatened Feb. 1 strike by two unions representing BNSF Railway conductors and engineers.
Loved ones of railroaders protest new attendance policy outside federal courthouse during hearing
A federal judge in Fort Worth is expected to make a decision before Tuesday night on whether or not to block the threatened strike by two BNSF Railway unions over the new attendance policy.
“It’s a slap in the face:” BNSF workers consider strike over new attendance policy
Union workers for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Corporation are considering a strike after the company announced a new attendance policy set to take effect Feb. 1, but the railway has filed a lawsuit trying to prevent the strike.
BLET News
Aldridge reelected to third full term as Kentucky Legislative Board Chairman
Bryan T. Aldridge was reelected by acclamation to his third full term as Chairman of the Kentucky State Legislative board at its quadrennial meeting in Louisville, Ky., August 28-30, 2018.
Teamsters: New NAFTA must be trilateral, address freight rail staffing concerns
The following is a joint statement from Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa and Teamsters Canada President François Laporte in response to ongoing North American Trade Agreement (NAFTA) reform discussions taking place in Washington now between U.S. and Canadian trade representatives and the need for a trilateral agreement.
Rail unions file petition against FRA over crews crossing from Mexico into the United States
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the International Association of Sheet Metal Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Transportation Division (SMART TD) have filed a joint petition challenging actions of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) that allow crews comprised of Mexican nationals employed by a Mexican rail company to operate trains across the United States border and into the U.S. instead of American crews employed by American railroads.
Four rail hazmat training classes available
The Rail Workers Hazardous Materials Training Program is hosting four rail worker training sessions in the coming months. The dates are as follows: November 11-16, 2018; January 6-11, 2019; February 3-8, 2019; and March 17-22, 2019.
Labor Day 2018
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President When the first Labor Day was celebrated in New York City in 1882, our Brotherhood had been fighting to improve wages and working conditions for locomotive engineers for nearly 20 years. Today, some note the holiday as marking the unofficial end of summer, but the true history of Labor Day is far more somber.
BLET reaches tentative agreement with South Buffalo Railway
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative contract agreement with the South Buffalo Railway Company (SBRR). Ballots were mailed on August 28 to active members of the BLET employed by the SBRR who are eligible to vote in the ratification of this agreement.
Open enrollment for the BLET Short Term Disability On-The-Job (Part B) coverage
Open Enrollment for the BLET’s Short Term Disability On-The-Job (Part B) insurance will end on August 31, 2018. Those who enroll will have their coverage take effect on September 1, 2018.
2018 BLET Fourth National Convention hotel deadline extended to August 31
Delegates and guests now have until 5:00 p.m. PDT on Friday, August 31, 2018 to make hotel reservations for the BLET’s Fourth National Convention at the guaranteed $99 special convention rate.
BLET reaches tentative agreement with Springfield Terminal
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative contract agreement with the Springfield Terminal Railway (STR). Ballots were mailed on August 22 to active members of the BLET employed by the STR who are eligible to vote in the ratification of this agreement.
Hotel deadline is August 26 for 2018 BLET Fourth National Convention
Delegates, visitors and other guests planning to attend the Fourth National Convention of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) later this year are advised that hotel reservations must be made by 5:00 p.m. PDT on Sunday, August 26, 2018. The convention will be held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. After that deadline passes, all guest rooms in the BLET block will be returned to the Rio for re-sale and the BLET will no longer be able to guarantee room availability. Additionally, rooms that may be available after that date cannot be booked with the BLET discounted convention rate.
