Rail Industry News
What’s behind LA’s shocking rail heists? Supply chain crunch, limited security, idle trains
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-01-20/los-angeles-rail-theft-supply-chain-crunch-limited-security
UP calls for strong deterrence vs. train robbers
Piles of looted packages littering Los Angeles’ tracks have become a testament to brazen train robberies, but according to Union Pacific Corp., the problem is under control.
California governor unveils effort to help fight plundering of LA rail cargo
Governor Gavin Newsom today joined Union Pacific representatives, elected officials, law enforcement and Caltrans crews at the Union Pacific railroad in Los Angeles, the site of a recent spike in theft, to announce a multi-agency effort to clean up the railway and highlight the state’s efforts to combat theft and hold perpetrators accountable.
UP CEO signals interest in autonomous intermodal cars
Union Pacific has expressed interest in a new autonomous battery-electric intermodal car concept developed by a group headed by three former Space X engineers.
UP says staff crunch from COVID-19 may hurt Q1 2022 volumes
Union Pacific Corp. said COVID-19 cases among its staff and paid time off for people getting inoculated may hurt its ability to move freight in the current quarter, but that impact should still be less than the 4% slump in volume in the previous quarter.
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...
BNSF tries to block 17,000 workers from striking
BNSF went to court after the BLET and SMART-TD both threatened to strike over the a new attendance policy that would penalize employees for missing work.
Union Pacific’s Q4 2021 profit up 24% despite weak volume
Union Pacific hauled in 24% more profit in the fourth quarter despite supply chain problems and weak auto production, but that is also compared with a period last year that included a one-time $278 million charge.
Union Pacific reports Q4 and full year 2021 results
Union Pacific Corporation today reported 2021 fourth quarter net income of $1.7 billion, or $2.66 per diluted share. This compares to adjusted 2020 fourth quarter net income of $1.6 billion, or $2.36 per diluted share.
U.S. rail traffic continues downward trend in week ending January 15
Total U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Jan. 15, 2022 was 493,617 carloads and intermodal units, down 6.6% from the same point last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported on Jan. 19; it is the second consecutive week that traffic has dropped.
UP accused of defective safety measures at rail yard
Union Pacific Railroad is facing a suit alleging poor safety measures and a defective gate at one of its railroad crossings led to injuries.
Schneider to leave BNSF for UP in 2023
Schneider has signed a long-term agreement with Union Pacific (UP) to be its primary intermodal rail provider in the western U.S., effective January 2023, the companies reported on Jan. 19.
KCS de Mexico chief suggests firm’s 2022 Mexico investments could further increase
Kansas City Southern de México is likely to exceed this year’s US$122mn investment commitment for Mexico.
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...
UP seeks Los Angeles D.A.’s help in stopping cargo thefts
Union Pacific Railroad is stepping up efforts to address a spike in cargo thefts from its trains in Los Angeles.
Thieves litter train tracks with family mementos
Clean-up crews found canvas portraits of a family of four, along with many other personal mementos, among the seemingly endless amounts of debris littered onto the railroads in East Los Angeles after thieves deemed them worthless.
Littered rail tracks reopened following weekend derailment in Lincoln Heights
A downtown Los Angeles track where rail cars derailed over the weekend has been repaired and is now reopened, a Union Pacific spokeswoman said Tuesday evening, Jan. 18.
UP, NS, CSX to use new freight scheduling platform
Supply-chain technology firm Blume Global has announced a collaborative information platform to coordinate cross-country shipments. Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, and CSX will be partners in the end-to-end freight scheduler, intended to allow shippers and intermodal firms to synchronize shipments across railroads.
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.
