Rail Industry News

All BLET members, families and friends are asked to please contact their House of Representatives Member and Senators to let them know that you are strongly opposed to the retention of the “Cadillac tax” in the new legislation known as the “American Health Care Act” (AHCA).

The BLET Education & Training Department, in conjunction with the National Legislative Office and the National Association of State Legislative Board Chairmen (NASLBC), will conduct a class for BLET Division Legislative Representatives in Washington, D.C., from July 25-27, 2017.

The BLET National Division is requesting that all members, their families and friends take the time to support railroaders in California — and American manufacturing and infrastructure workers across multiple states — by signing the White House petition below.

Along with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) strongly opposes so-called “right-to-work” legislation introduced in the U.S. Congress on January 31, and the National Division is urging all union members and their families to contact Congress to express their opposition to this destructive anti-union/anti-worker bill.

By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President One of any Union’s primary responsibilities is to negotiate for and defend the benefits that make union jobs the best jobs in our proud country. It is no secret — as all members should be well aware — that the railroads are attempting in our national contract negotiations to diminish the quality of our health care benefits. In fact, the primary reason for our national freight contract not being settled is due to your employers’ demands that you pick up significantly more of the cost of your health care. You have had no contract to vote on because I have heard loud and clear how you view such a contract; you would never ratify it.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has published a Disaster Relief Notice to assist members living in the state of Louisiana.

Registration is now open for the BLET regional meeting at the Regency San Antonio Riverwalk, June 5-9, 2017.

Brother W.D. (Billy) Evans was reelected by acclamation to his third term as Chairman of the Mississippi State Legislative Board during its quadrennial meeting in Biloxi, Miss., January 29-31, 2017.

The BLET Auxiliary is pleased to announce an expansion of its Scholarship Program.