Rail Industry News
Railroad retiree earnings limits will increase in 2023
Railroad retirement annuitants subject to earnings restrictions can earn more in 2023 without having their benefits reduced due to increased limits indexed to average national wage increases.
Rail traffic uptick during week ending October 15, 2022
For the week ending Oct. 15, 2022, total U.S. rail traffic was up 0.7% over the same week last year.
Hurricane Ian damage largely spares supply chains
Major freight railroads reported little to no damage.
Medicare Part B premiums decline in 2023
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that the standard monthly Part B premium will be $164.90 in 2023, a decrease of $5.20 from $170.10 in 2022.
U.S. rail operators’ volume woes to continue next year
Volume woes at U.S. railroad operators are set to spill into next year as labor shortages continue to hurt the sector that is critical in connecting consumers with businesses and finished goods, according to analysts.
Teamster UPS airline maintenance workers give big thumbs-up to new 3-year deal
UPS aircraft maintenance and related workers overwhelmingly approved a new three-year contract that increases wages and pension contributions for some 1,675 Teamsters Local 2727 members located across the U.S.
TSA issues new cybersecurity requirements for passenger and freight railroad carriers
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced a new cybersecurity security directive regulating designated passenger and freight railroad carriers.
FRA Administrator to visit Birmingham areas plagued by blocked rail crossings
The Federal Railroad Administrator will be in Birmingham Wednesday meeting with Congresswoman Terri Sewell and other local officials about the on-going issue of trains blocking neighborhoods.
SC Ports Authority breaks ground on new near-dock rail facility
CSX, Norfolk Southern Railway and Palmetto Railways will serve the facility on nearly 80,000 feet of track.
Hitachi Rail releases final designs for new train factory in Maryland
When the plant is completed in first-quarter 2024, employees will begin work on the plant’s first order: 256 new 8000-series rail cars for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).
CP Holiday Train returns to the rails after two-year hiatus
The train will again raise money, food and awareness for local food banks in communities along the CP network.
CSX Santa Train to run on November 19 for first time in three years
The CSX Santa Train, a beloved Appalachian tradition for 80 years, will be back on the rails this year for the first time since 2019.
CN challenges STB’s draft environmental review of CP-KCS merger
Canadian National is challenging some conclusions federal regulators reached in their draft environmental review of the proposed Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger.
7 takeaways from STB’s hearing on proposed CP-KCS merger
The public hearing before the Surface Transportation Board on the proposed merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern consisted of three days of testimony spanning over 25 hours on why or why not the merger should proceed.
5 more takeaways from CP-KCS merger hearing
How much responsibility should Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern bear to keep international gateways open and keep the rail networks through Chicago and Houston fluid?
Gov. Newsom signs Teamster-backed bill cracking down on union busting
Teamsters Joint Council 7 is lauding California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent signing of groundbreaking legislation that will significantly increase enforcement of labor laws prohibiting union busting in the public sector.
Amtrak, BNSF seek change of venue in fatal Chariton County train crash cases
Amtrak and BNSF are asking judges to move at least three cases over a deadly summer train crash because too few people live in Chariton County.
SMART-MD ratifies labor pact with freight railroads
Members of the SMART Railroad, Mechanical and Engineering Department (SMART MD) voted to ratify a tentative agreement with the nation’s major freight railroads, the union and National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC) announced yesterday.
BNSF must pay truck drivers $228 million for privacy violation
A jury has ordered freight railway giant BNSF Railway Co to pay $228 million to tens of thousands of truck drivers after finding the company collected the drivers’ fingerprints without consent.
Rail carloads and intermodal drop in week ending October 8
U.S. freight rail traffic dipped yet again in Week 40, compared with the prior-year period, as carloads fell just below 3% and intermodal dropped 2%, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported for the week ending Oct. 8, 2022.
BLET News
Runion reelected Wyoming SLB Chairman
The BLET’s Wyoming State Legislative Board (WYSLB) convened its triennial meeting on June 13, 2022, at the Wyoming AFL-CIO Labor Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
In the Line of Duty: Ryan M. Jones
Brother Ryan M. Jones, a member of BLET Division 103 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, passed away while on duty on July 28, 2022. He was 33 years old.
Sean Simon joins BLET National Legislative Office
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce has appointed Brother Sean P. Simon of BLET Division 226 (Newark, New Jersey), to serve the BLET as Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, effective July 25, 2022.
National Division launches 2022 convention website
The BLET National Division has launched a new website to provide key information to delegates, vendors and guests attending the union’s Fifth National Convention, which will be held October 10-13, 2022.
BLET opens Baltimore regional meeting
Guest speakers included: Jimmy Donovan, Director of the Department of Political and Legislative Affairs, International Brotherhood of Teamsters; Amit Bose, Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration; John Bragg, Labor Member, Railroad Retirement Board; and Kat Bisbikis, National President, BLET Auxiliary.
BLET, SMART-TD presidents update members following PEB 250
Presidential Emergency Board (“PEB” or “the Board”) 250 conducted hearings in Washington, D.C. this past week, concluding on July 28th. We both were honored to represent our unions and, by extension, the memberships of the dozen strong United Rail Unions as we presented and testified in support of our unified case to the PEB. We are sharing this joint message to ensure that our members are up to date on all of the bargaining round issues.
In the Line of Duty: Keith W. Bass
Brother Keith W. Bass, a member of BLET Division 48 in St. Louis, Missouri, died on July 27 from injuries sustained in a crew van accident on July 26. He was 46 years old.
Membership update from the United Rail Unions regarding PEB No. 250
Today, July 24, 2022, the United Rail Unions, who are bargaining as part of the Coordinated Bargaining Coalition and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way/SMART Mechanical Coalition, and the Carriers represented by the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC) began their presentations before the Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) appointed by President Biden.
BLET members ratify new contract with Illinois & Midland
The BLET secured General Wage increases of 29 percent over the life of the five-year agreement, which runs through 2026. Members also receive a $5,000 signing bonus.
TTD President: Rail labor welcomes Biden’s announcement of Emergency Board
Editor's Note: The following is a press release from Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department (TTD) regarding President Biden's appointment of a Presidential Emergency Board to investigate the national rail contract dispute. RAIL LABOR WELCOMES...
