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Rail Industry News

CN releases annual grain plan

CN has published its 2022-2023 grain plan, which describes the railroad’s preparations for moving a western Canadian grain crop that is expected to rebound from last year’s drought-impacted level.

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Opinion: We’ve come full circle

While the pandemic had some impact, I believe our current situation is primarily the result of the industry having Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) thrown back in its face. Power storage? Worker layoffs? Sound familiar? 

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BLET News

Two-person crew bill introduced in Michigan

On December 2, 2021, a railroad safety bill requiring qualified two-person train crews was introduced in the state of Michigan’s House of Representatives and Senate.

BLET to conduct virtual training for Secretary-Treasurers

The BLET Education and Training Department will conduct two virtual training classes for Division Secretary-Treasurers via Zoom from the BLET National Division headquarters in Independence, Ohio. Classes will be held December 14-16, 2021, and January 4-6, 2022.

BLET, SMART-TD suit seeks immediate halt to BNSF and Metra vaccine mandates

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART-TD) have filed motions for preliminary injunctions, seeking to immediately halt unilaterally implemented vaccine mandates imposed by Metra commuter rail and BNSF Railway, and require the carriers to negotiate over the issue.

BLET, SMART-TD suits seek immediate halt to Amtrak vaccine mandate

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART-TD) yesterday filed motions for a preliminary injunction, seeking to immediately halt a unilaterally implemented vaccine mandate imposed by Amtrak, and require the carrier to negotiate over the issue.

Unions counter Metra COVID vaccine mandate

CLEVELAND, Ohio, November 24, 2021 — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART-TD) have responded to the suit Metra filed...

Thanksgiving 2021

By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President On behalf of the BLET Advisory Board, I wish you all a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

Vaccine cases with two Rail Carriers consolidated in Illinois court

On November 17, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois consolidated multiple lawsuits that had been filed in the Illinois federal court, including ones by the BLET and two other rail unions challenging two Class I carriers’ implementation of COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

GA-46000 Lifetime maximum adjusted for 2022

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, November 19 — The lifetime maximum benefit for the Railroad Employees National Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit Plan (also known as ERMA or GA-46000) will increase from $175,700 to $182,700 on January 1, 2022. At the end of 2001, Labor and...

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