Rail Industry News
Wabtec and UE Locals sound optimistic about reaching fair and equitable outcome
(Source: www.yourerie.com, June 5, 2019) ERIE, Pa. — There's still no agreement this hour between Wabtec and UE Local 506 and 618. Wabtec and union workers have been working under a 90-day interim agreement. Full story: www.yourerie.com
Operating ratio is CSX’s scorecard, CEO says
(Source: Jacksonville Daily Record, June 5, 2019) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As far as James Foote is concerned, one number tells you everything you need to know about CSX Corp.’s performance: the operating ratio. Full story: Jacksonville Daily Record
More job cuts hit UP’s Bailey Yard
(Source: North Platte Telegraph, June 6, 2019) NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — The Union Pacific Railroad Wednesday carried out additional job reductions at North Platte’s Bailey Yard, the latest in a series of furloughs and job eliminations under U.P.’s systemwide Unified Plan...
Railroad union vows FRA’s decision to scrap proposal for minimum crew sizes won’t go unchallenged
(Source: Safety & Health Magazine, June 6, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Railroad Administration has withdrawn a 2016 notice of proposed rulemaking that would have established a minimum crew size of two members on most railroad operations. Full story: Safety &...
CSX wants Hyndman suit to stay in federal court
(Source: Altoona Mirror, June 5, 2019) ALTOONA, Pa. — CSX Transportation Inc. has filed a petition asking that a lawsuit filed by a Hyndman family as a result of a train derailment nearly two years ago remain in the U.S. District Court and not be returned to the...
Unions offer opportunity for younger workers
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, June 4, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Young adults in America are not optimistic about the future, and for good reason – financially they are doing far worse than those from previous generations. Statistics...
French police raid rail operator SNCF in probe into IBM contracts
(Source: Reuters, June 5, 2019) PARIS — French police raided the headquarters of national railway operator SNCF as part of an investigation into contracts handed to U.S. computer company IBM, a spokeswoman at the company and a judicial source said on Wednesday. Full...
Freeman succeeds Tedeschi as GCC President
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, June 4, 2019) SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — George Tedeschi, president of the IBT’s Graphic Communications Conference, retired June 2 after 60 years of union service and was succeeded by Kurt Freeman, a highly...
Lawmakers target Chinese rail cars over security concerns
(Source: The Hill, June 5, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Chinese company that is designing subway train cars for U.S. cities is at the center of growing scrutiny over worries that its products could be susceptible to hacking or remote control. Full story: The Hill
CP moves record amount of grain in 2018-19 crop year
(Source: Canadian Pacific Railway press release, June 4, 2019) CALGARY, Alberta — On the strength of its operating model and the power of its 13,000-strong CP family, Canadian Pacific continues to set records for the movement of Canadian grain. As of the end of May...
Illinois General Assembly OKs $100 million for proposed Metra extension into Kendall County
(Source: The Beacon-News, June 3, 2019) CHICAGO — Illinois lawmakers over the weekend approved an infrastructure bill that includes $100 million for a proposal to extend Metra train service beyond Aurora into Kendall County. Full story: Chicago Tribune
California’s top bullet train consultant is suspended amid a state ethics review
(Source: Los Angeles Times, June 4, 2019) LOS ANGELES — The top consultant on the California bullet train has been put on suspension after a state watchdog agency began reviewing his approval of a multimillion-dollar contract for a company in which he had heavily...
CN expects automation to save up to $400 million over next three years
(Source: Financial Post, June 4, 2019) OTTAWA — A typical railcar inspection takes about two minutes for a Canadian National Railway mechanic walking on uneven ground around the tracks, shining a flashlight on a car’s undercarriage to spot defects in need of repair....
Supreme Court ruling paves way for performance metrics for rail
(Source: Freight Waves, June 4, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a case again about whether Amtrak can have a role in crafting the on-time performance metrics and standards for the freight railroads. The Court’s June 3 action paves...
Union Pacific laying off 30 mechanical workers at South Morrill
(Source: BH News Service, June 5, 2019) MORRILL, Neb. — Union Pacific Railroad has announced it plans to furlough 30 workers at its mechanical shop at the South Morrill Yard. This week’s layoffs affect the smaller mechanical shop, where minor locomotive repairs and...
Teamsters in Wayne County, N.Y., ratify new agreement
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, June 3, 2019) ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Despite difficult negotiations and Wayne County’s premature declaration of impasse, Local 118 is pleased to announce that the members have overwhelmingly ratified a new...
Amtrak upgrading low-speed track between D.C. and Baltimore
(Source: Television station WTOP, June 4, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak is upgrading a 31-mile stretch of track between D.C. and Baltimore, as it positions itself for its next generation of high speed Acela Express trains, which are scheduled to enter service in...
Union Pacific continues flood battle
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, June 4, 2019) NEW YORK — Flooding in the Midwest this spring has been historic, and rail lines just got in the way of Mother Nature’s powerful stampede. Union Pacific has been working around the clock in attempt to restore service...
Wabtec, UE Union return to the negotiating table Wednesday
(Source: Erie News Now, June 4, 2019) ERIE, Pa. — It's been a long night of bargaining for the two sides in the ongoing labor dispute out at the Wabtec plant in Lawrence park, but there is still no deal as of Tuesday morning. They went past the midnight expiration of...
Amtrak, freight railroads continue service suspensions due to flooding
(Source: Progressive Railroading, June 3, 2019) Severe weather, heavy rain and historic flooding conditions continue to affect freight and passenger railroads' operations in parts of the U.S. South, Central Plains and Midwest regions. Full story: Progressive...
BLET News
CN-IC deal emphasizes better quality of life
The BLE’s recently ratified contract agreement with Canadian National’s former Illinois Central properties marks a radical change from traditional mileage-based agreements.
BLE members on CN’s former IC properties ratify new labor agreement
Canadian National (CN) and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) announced the ratification of a new labor agreement by the locomotive engineers working on CN’s former Illinois Central (IC) properties.
BLE and Teamsters approve Procedural Agreement
The BLE Advisory Board and the Teamsters’ General Executive Board have approved a procedural agreement that will govern the merger process up to and including the submission of an agreement for ratification.
BLE rallies against remote controlled locomotives in Washington State
In temperatures over 100 degrees, locomotive engineers rallied yesterday against the use of remote control technology. The rally, held in conjunction with the BLE’s International Western Convention, took place in front of the Westcoast Tri-Cities Hotel in Kennewick, Wash.
Congress approves Amtrak funding
In an agreement reached this afternoon, the U.S. Congress has voted to provide Amtrak with $205 million in supplemental funding to take it through to the end of the fiscal year.
News Analysis: AFL-CIO, Teamsters key to BLE Tex-Mex victory
In the wake of yesterday’s representation election victory on the Texas-Mexican Railway, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers President Don Hahs revealed portions of the BLE’s organizing strategy that made the campaign a success.
Tex Mex workers select BLE
A majority of workers on the Texas-Mexican Railway today selected the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers as their designated collective bargaining representative in a National Mediation Board certified election.
BLE fatigue plan would improve safety, Hahs testifies
BLE President Don M. Hahs yesterday told the Senate’s Surface Transportation Subcommittee that the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers has created a fatigue counter-measure plan that would greatly improve safety in the railroad industry.
Hahs to testify at Senate rail safety hearing
BLE International President Don M. Hahs is scheduled to testify tomorrow at a hearing on railroad safety before the Senate’s Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee.
Statement by Teamsters General President Hoffa on UTU’s smear of BLE
The allegation by the unaffiliated United Transportation Union (UTU) that Locomotive Engineers crossed a Teamster picket line in Laredo July 3 is false and insupportable.
