Rail Industry News
Editorial: Remember the East Palestine train derailment? The U.S. is still waiting for fixes
National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy called the East Palestine train derailment “100 percent preventable.” Rail companies can do better; Congress should ensure they do.
Scientists begin taking biological survey samples from residents of East Palestine
A team of researchers led by University of Kentucky College of Public Health environmental scientist Erin Haynes has traveled to East Palestine to collect biological samples further to understand the train derailment’s health effects.
Sinkhole may be to blame for CSX derailment near Philadelphia
A spokesperson from CSX told WHYY News in a written statement that the entire length of the train was 40 railcars. CSX believes the cause of the incident “to be weather related” and that conditions created a “sinkhole in the rail bed.”
Lawmakers renew calls for rail safety reforms after Pa.’s latest train derailment
Several Pennsylvania officials are calling for action to tighten railroad safety laws after a CSX train derailed in Montgomery County early Monday morning, July 17.
Port labor deal in British Columbia collapses, strike resumes
Vancouver and Prince Rupert are important to American supply chains because containers are brought through these ports and shipped via rail to Chicago and other U.S. destinations.
Union Pacific to renew push for 1-person crews by testing conductors in trucks
The railroad will continue using two crew members on its trains during the test, but officials say this could bolster their case in future negotiations for cutting crew size if it is successful.
Rail Labor unions oppose transportation spending bill
The entirety of rail labor stands together in opposition to proposed funding cuts that would devastate the U.S. passenger and freight rail networks.
Evacuations lifted after CSX train derails near Philadelphia, but cleanup and investigation are just starting
Emergency crews are investigating a CSX train derailment on Norfolk Southern tracks in southeast Pennsylvania near Philadelphia. About 16 of the train’s 40 cars derailed around 4:50 a.m.
Hazards on trains: Why a push to improve NJ rail safety is meeting opposition
Two bills pending in the NJ state Legislature seeking to address rail safety concerns were not passed before lawmakers broke for recess last month.
Impact of Canada ports strike to be felt for weeks
For some Americans, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union ports strike in Canada never made it on their radar. But while Canada will feel the impact far more than the United States, that does not mean we got away squeaky clean.
Political discord threatens Senate response to rail disaster
An internal GOP dispute between party leaders and a motley crew of junior lawmakers is threatening to sink a bipartisan rail safety bill aimed at responding to February’s toxic spill in East Palestine, Ohio.
House subcommittee advances bill that would slash funding for rail
A House subcommittee on July 12 advanced a fiscal-year 2024 appropriations bill that would slash funding to the Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak and several rail-related programs.
High level of a hazardous chemical polluted the air weeks after East Palestine derailment
According to a study, levels of a chemical irritant called acrolein detected near the derailment site on Feb. 20 and 21 were up to six times higher than normal levels recorded before the disaster. But local and federal officials had told residents it was safe to return home on Feb. 8.
Editorial: Scrutiny of rail safety must continue
The fiery Norfolk Southern derailment that wreaked havoc in and around East Palestine, Ohio, last winter — as well as the derailment’s aftermath — have dispatched numerous poignant messages not only to current and future generations of NS management but also to officials of other freight railroads.
Rail labor and management urge swift passage of REEF Act
Two rail industry associations and two unions teamed recently to encourage Congressional support of the Railroad Employee Equity and Fairness Act (REEF Act; H.R.2785/S.1274), which they said would “eliminate cuts to railroad unemployment and sickness benefits.”
STB to investigate Union Pacific’s Sunset Limited handling
Seven months after Amtrak called on the U.S. Surface Transportation Board to investigate Union Pacific’s handling of the Sunset Limited, the federal regulator announced it would be looking into how the freight railroad has allegedly prioritized its trains over the passenger train.
U.S. rail volumes fell 5% in week ending July 8, 2023
Carloads totaled 197,086, down 2.3%, while intermodal units totaled 210,757, down 7.6%.
FRA issues safety bulletin on shove movements after conductor trainee death
The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a safety bulletin after a CSX Transportation conductor trainee was killed during a shove movement in Baltimore.
Railroad industry sues to block limit on crew sizes that Ohio imposed after East Palestine derailment
The railroad industry has sued to block a new minimum crew-size requirement that Ohio imposed after a fiery train derailment in East Palestine in February.
STB sets schedule for hearing coal producer’s common carrier complaint against BNSF
Federal regulators have set a procedural schedule for handling Navajo Transitional Energy Co.’s common carrier complaint against BNSF Railway.
BLET News
AI, automation, robotics pose a threat to non-union workers, says Time Magazine
In March of this year, BLET National Vice President Vince Verna testified that autonomous rail equipment is "not ready for prime time". (BLET photo taken during 2022 demonstration in Culver City, Calif.) ____________________ Over the past two years, BLET has publicly...
BLET members attend annual rail labor solidarity rally in Houston
BLET members and their families from across the Lonestar State participated in the annual Houston Solidarity Rally on October 15, joining with several hundred other Texas railroad workers from other operating and shop crafts. See photo gallery of the event here.
2024 Election: Tim Walz has a record of supporting rail labor
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (center, blue tie) at the BLET Minnesota State Legislative Board meeting in April of 2023. ____________________ During campaign season, politicians will make promises — but can they deliver? Can they be believed? In Tim Walz’s case, the...
Georgia: OSHA orders back pay, punitive damages and legal fees for two BLET members after CSXT violates whistleblower law
An administrative law judge at the U.S. Department of Labor has ordered CSX Transportation to pay a total of $453,510 to two BLET members who were wrongfully terminated for exercising their federally protected rights to report workplace safety concerns. The decision...
Project 2025 would eliminate two-person train crew regulation, cut rail safety inspections
Project 2025 is a 920-page document that spells out what Republicans plan to do if they were to gain the presidency in the 2024 election. While candidate Trump has denied knowledge of the document, it was written by at least 140 Trump advisers and former (and likely...
Chicago: BLET members ratify Metra-UP implementing agreement
The ratified implementing agreement with Metra governs 307 BLET members. Photo courtesy of Cory Rusch, BLET Division 659 ____________________ BLET members last week ratified an implementing agreement related to Metra’s takeover of services from the Union Pacific...
Order now: Request your 2025 Time Book
The BLET National Division is now taking requests from members who wish to receive a new Time Book for 2025. These books will only be distributed to members upon request. To receive a Time Book, members must first log in to the Members’ Area of the BLET National...
National negotiations: BLET Advisory Board, National Wage Team and General Chairmen continue preparations
The BLET Advisory Board met on October 7 at the National Division to discuss many pressing issues crucial to the Brotherhood. Bargaining strategies for this next round of contract talks with the largest carriers were the main topic of discussion when the BLET...
Monthly employee contributions under the National Health & Welfare Plan will decrease by 10.2% in 2025
Though health care costs continue to rise nationally, healthcare premiums and the 15% employee monthly cost-sharing contributions will decrease in 2025 for BLET members covered by the National H&W Plans. Monthly employee cost sharing contributions will decrease by...
Arizona: Governor signs BLET-backed transportation worker assault bill
Pictured: BLET Arizona State Legislative Board Chairman Kevin Onnembo (third from right) at the governor's signing ceremony for HB 2742. ____________________ BLET Arizona State Legislative Board Chairman Kevin Onnembo was on hand earlier this month as Governor Katie...
