Rail Industry News
Senator Baldwin introduces bill to address common-carrier rules
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) introduced a bill this week seeking to better define railroads’ common-carrier rules and establishing criteria for the Surface Transportation Board to consider when assessing complaints about service issues, as well as a timeline to do so.
To avoid next crew crisis, railroads need to broaden their appeal to younger workers
In order to attract, hire, and retain conductors – and avoid crew shortages that snarl operations and hurt service – Class I railroads need to make the job more appealing to today’s workers.
Police say man jumped on freight train, attacked locomotive engineer with knife in Minnesota
A man is facing felony charges for allegedly attacking a train engineer with a knife, causing the victim to flee by jumping from a moving locomotive Tuesday near Sauk Rapids, Minnesota.
AAR: Carloads up, intermodal down for week ending September 17
While U.S. carloads rose for Week 37 (ending Sept. 17, 2022), intermodal volume fell, bringing total traffic down compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported on Sept. 21.
BNSF says it can’t be sued by Amtrak crash victims
BNSF Railway has asked a federal court to rule that those who have sued over the June derailment of Amtrak’s Southwest Chief must settle matters through arbitration rather than lawsuits, and asked that state suits be placed on hold while the arbitration question is decided at the federal level.
UP to announce Q3 2022 results on October 20
Union Pacific Corporation will release third quarter 2022 financial and operating results on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, at 7:45 a.m. ET.
Chicago’s CREATE lands $70 million federal grant for Westside project
Chicago’s CREATE Program will receive $70 million in federal funding for a $170 million project to modernize a 2-mile stretch of Union Pacific track on the city’s west side, the partners in the Chicago Region Environment and Transportation Efficiency Program have announced.
Class Is log U.S. employment surge for August 2022
Year over year, the number of transportation (train and engine) employees was up 3.5%.
Coal mining companies complain about rail service, particularly in the East
Mines have had to curtail production due to poor rail service that’s only getting worse even as demand for coal rises, the National Mining Association told the Surface Transportation Board in a letter last week.
Business groups take aim at chronic rail disruptions
But business groups argue that there is more to be done to address poor rail service, which they say has magnified red-hot inflation.
1,000 Teamsters rally at Amazon HQ to call out company for exploiting workers, harming communities
One thousand Teamsters and local community supporters held a massive rally today outside of Amazon’s corporate headquarters in Seattle to demand the company end its union busting tactics and dangerous labor practices. The rally coincided with the Teamsters Women’s Conference, being held in Seattle this week.
NTSB releases preliminary report on fatal UP accident in August 2022
A preliminary report has been issued regarding the deadly train derailment in the Lower Valley in August.
UP conductor alleges he suffered injuries during transport to train
He claims the Union Pacific employee driving the transport, failed to wait for a train to clear the vehicle crossing, reversed course and went around the train and slammed into a telephone/light pole.
There may not be a strike at freight railroads, but the service is still terrible
The fact that there is not a freight railroad strike happening this week is a huge win for the US economy and its still struggling supply chain.
As stopgap to relieve crew shortages, CSX seeks transfers to Water Level Route terminals
In system notices sent last week, CSX said it was seeking train and engine crews to temporarily transfer to Buffalo, Syracuse, and Selkirk, N.Y., as well as West Springfield, Mass., and Philadelphia.
Rail customers ask Congress to reauthorize STB
Although they welcomed the new tentative agreement between the railroads and labor unions, the industry’s customers are calling on Congress to help resolve other freight-rail problems that continue to harm the U.S. economy and prolong the U.S. supply-chain crisis.
Opinion: Cheap at twice the price
And I think railroad management has to recognize the bargain it gets, and adjust its scheduling, staffing and service requirements to enhance the ability of this bargain resource to do what it has done over the past forty years—deliver the goods.
Incoming CSX CEO talks about improving service, engaging labor
Hinrichs has served as president of Ford Motor Co.’s automotive business, handling its global operations as well as the Ford and Lincoln brands.
No injuries reported as NS train derails in Southern Illinois
Twenty-six cars of a Norfolk Southern train derailed Monday morning between the towns of Albers and New Baden, leading to an extensive response from authorities that included a hazardous-materials team as a precautionary measure. No injuries were reported.
Editorial: Rail workers’ struggle shows the power of organized working class
Top level government officials, even the president himself, were compelled to make the grievances of railroad workers their top priority. This is testament to the huge power that the working class holds when it is organized and willing to fight.
BLET News
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...
President Biden appoints PEB to investigate national rail contract dispute
The United Rail Unions issue the following statement July 15, 2022: The Rail Unions who are bargaining as part of the Coordinated Bargaining Coalition and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way/SMART Mechanical Coalition attended the Public Interest Hearings hosted by...
Carriers continue to stonewall at latest NMB hearings as IBT offers added support
On Tuesday, July 12, 2022, BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce traveled to Washington D.C. to represent the membership of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen at the Public Interest Hearings held by the National Mediation Board (NMB) in a final attempt to assist the involved Rail Unions and Carriers in reaching a contract settlement.
BLET Strike Vote: The rest of the story
Today, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen tallied the ballots cast in its first nationwide strike vote over national contract negotiations since 2011. In a showing of solidarity and unity, 99.5% of the participating members voted to authorize a strike should such action become legal in the coming days, and become necessary to secure a contract worthy of their consideration.
