Rail Industry News
National rail strike or lockout possible July 18 unless President Biden intervenes
Railroad freight traffic across the United States could come to a screeching halt July 18 if progress isn’t made on a labor contract between national rail carriers and their unions.
Freight rail under scrutiny
So far, 2022 has been a perfect storm for the freight rail industry. In the eye of the storm, there are no fewer than 10 pain points.
How Biden’s rail expansion could impact Washington train service
As President Biden’s ambitious passenger rail expansion plan faces an early test on the Gulf Coast, Washington train advocates have expressed concern about how it could affect the Pacific Northwest.
Q&A: Unemployment and sickness benefits for railroad employees
The following questions and answers describe these benefits, their eligibility requirements, and how to claim them.
Corporate billionaires are wrecking the supply chain; Just look at the railroads
Lest we forget, BNSF Railway and Union Pacific made billions in profit in 2021.
Retailers to Biden: Get involved in rail labor dispute
A growing list of businesses are letting President Joe Biden know they’re worried about the current stalemate in major freight railroads’ labor negotiations and the impact a potential rail strike would have on the economy.
Railroad bottleneck at nation’s busiest West Coast ports reaches inflection point
Sixty percent of all long-dwell containers at the Port of Los Angeles are rail-bound, and container wait for rail is a little over eight days for the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Via Rail workers issue strike mandate
As negotiations continue in Montreal, members of Unifor, Canada’s largest union on the private sector and representing VIA Rail’s on-board service personnel, chefs, sales agents and customer staff, issued a strike mandate ahead of the July 11 strike deadline.
Bettendorf City Council OKs CP-KCS merger
As part of the agreement with Canadian Pacific, Bettendorf will receive $3 million to help mitigate the effects on the city as a result of the increased rail traffic.
AAR reports rail traffic for June and the week ending July 2, 2022
Total U.S. carload traffic for the first six months of 2022 was 5,993,917 carloads, down 0.1 percent, or 8,823 carloads, from the same period last year; and 6,878,726 intermodal units, down 6.2 percent, or 453,282 containers and trailers, from last year.
Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw sells $241,840 in company stock
Norfolk Southern Corporation shares valued at $241,840 were sold by Alan H. Shaw on June 1, 2022. At $241.84 per share, Shaw sold 1,000 shares.
Canada unveils measures to protect rail infrastructure from extreme weather
The Government of Canada is taking action to further improve the safety and security of Canada’s rail system, especially in light of the impacts of climate change and severe weather on railway operations.
Rail shippers call on Biden to appoint PEB to settle rail contract dispute
A coalition of rail shippers is calling on President Joe Biden to establish a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) to help the nation’s largest railroads and rail labor groups reach a contract settlement.
Big business calls on Biden to avert rail strike
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is calling on President Joe Biden to help resolve a dispute between the country’s Class 1 railroads and 12 rail unions to avert a possible rail strike beginning July 18.
CSX sending 137 information technology jobs to India
CSX Corp. is partnering with an India-based company to outsource some of its information technology services, affecting 137 jobs.
Rail traffic falls for 19th straight week
Total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 500,285 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.5% compared with the same week in 2021.
What does the Federal Railroad Administration do?
The Federal Railroad Administration oversees the safety aspects of rail.
Linda Puchala assumes NMB chairmanship
The National Mediation Board (NMB) is pleased to announce that Ms. Linda A. Puchala has been named Chairman of the National Mediation Board, effective July 1, 2022. Mr. Gerald W. Fauth III and Ms. Deirdre Hamilton remain as Members of the Board.
U.S. rail system still deteriorating
We’re now in the second half of 2022, when the four major U.S. Class I’s have committed to turning their operations around, but the current state of play is not encouraging.
Will Supreme Court ruling chill STB, FRA?
Whether the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will suffer from a June 30 Supreme Court (SCOTUS) trimming of regulatory agency authority to interpret their own governing statutes and remedy ambiguities remains to be seen.
BLET News
Registration open for BLET’s Austin regional meeting, July 12-16, 2021
The BLET is pleased to announce the resumption of its regional meeting program with a meeting in Austin, Texas, July 12-16, 2021. CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19 protocols will be strictly enforced to protect the health and safety of everyone in attendance.
C. George Hainsworth, former BLE Canadian Director, 1928-2021
Charles George Hainsworth, who served the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) as Canadian Director, International Vice President and National Legislative Representative-Canada, passed away peacefully at his home on April 1, 2021, with family by his side. He was 92 years old.
Workers’ Memorial Day 2021
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President Workers’ Memorial Day is a time for all workers to remember and honor those who have lost their lives in the workplace, and to stand up to protect those on the job today.
BLET, New Jersey Transit contract talks in federal mediation
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), a Division of the Teamsters Rail Conference, is being assisted by a federal mediator from the National Mediation Board (NMB) in contract negotiations with the New Jersey Transit (NJT), pursuant to Section 5, First, of the Railway Labor Act.
Nevada Governor honors America’s railroaders
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak has issued a proclamation praising America’s railroaders, declaring Wednesday, April 28, 2021, as “A Day In Honor of Railroad Workers.”
Leo M. Srubas, 1930-2021
Brother Leo M. Srubas, a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen for nearly 65 years, passed away on March 26, 2021, after a two and a half year battle with kidney disease. He was 91 years old.
Update from Railroad Retirement Board’s Labor Member regarding American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
The following is a message to Rail Labor from John Bragg, Labor Member of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board
BLET reaches tentative agreement with St. Lawrence & Atlantic
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative agreement with the St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad (SL&A). Ballots were mailed yesterday to active members of the BLET employed by the SL&A who are eligible to vote in the ratification of this tentative agreement.
BLET statement regarding CP Rail’s proposed acquisition of KCS
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen was notified over the weekend of the proposed acquisition of Kansas City Southern Railway by the Canadian Pacific Railway.
BLET seeks mediation in LIRR contract talks
On March 2, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) applied to the National Mediation Board (NMB) for the assignment of a federal mediator to assist in contract negotiations with the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), pursuant to Section 5, First, of the Railway Labor Act.
