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CLEVELAND:
Doug Davidson to retire after 50+ years; Dan Lucansky new Director of Arbitration for the BLET National Division
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A Rail Labor institution on the National Railroad Adjustment Board is retiring effective on Monday, March 31. BLET Director of Arbitration Doug Davidson, who also serves as the NRAB's Vice Chairman, is pulling the pin after a railroad career that spanned 51 years. His replacement, Dan Lucansky of Division 96 in Chicago, took the reins on March 24.
Davidson’s first railroad job as a switchman began in 1973, but after a very lengthy furlough, he hired out with the Chicago & North Western as a road brakeman in 1976. He earned promotion to locomotive engineer and joined BLET Division 96 in June of 1980. Davidson served seven terms as Local Chairman for Division 96, arguing his first arbitration cases at the First Division in 1993. In 2006, he began working full-time for the National Division, first as Assistant Director of Arbitration and then as Director of Arbitration (2010-2025). Davidson holds the unique distinction of being the first non-attorney to successfully handle a certification case at the 409 level (trial de novo), and he served multiple terms as chairman and vice chair of the First Division and chairman and vice chair of the entire National Railroad Adjustment Board (NRAB).
“Director of Arbitration is an important job that goes right to the core of what a union does: protect its members and enforce contracts,” Davidson said. “It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve the membership. It’s been a long ride, and I’ve seen a lot of changes in the industry since 1973. I’m very proud that I’ve been able to represent our members and do some good.”
Lucansky hired out with the Union Pacific in September of 2004 and earned promotion to locomotive engineer in November of 2005. He is a second generation railroader whose father worked in the maintenance of way department for UP out of Chicago. Lucansky was elected Local Chairman of Division 96 in 2012 and was reelected in 2015, 2018, 2021 and 2024. As a young union officer, Lucansky wanted to learn and make his own arbitration cases better, so he would often travel to downtown Chicago in his spare time and observe First Division cases before the NRAB. That learning experience paid off when Lucansky was elected 2nd Vice Chairman of the Union Pacific-Northern Region GCA in 2018 and again in 2022. He began handling the GCA’s First Division cases in 2021, and has handled nearly all its rules cases since 2023.
National President Eddie Hall thanked Davidson for his years of distinguished service to the union. “It is hard to put into words the level of appreciation our Brotherhood has for Brother Davidson,” Hall said. “Countless members have benefitted from his expertise. I wish him the best and hope he will enjoy the fruits of his labor during retirement.”
President Hall also welcomed Lucansky. “We have put a lot of weight on Dan’s shoulders, but I am confident he will be the driving force behind the continued success of our Arbitration Department.”
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Dan Lucansky took over as the BLET's Director of Arbitration this week. He is a second generation railroader and has been a BLET member since 2005.
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LABOR:
TTD condemns Trump administration's move to eliminate collective bargaining rights for nearly a million federal employees
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The AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD) is condemning the Trump Administration’s March 27 Executive Order that seeks to end collective bargaining rights for approximately 1 million federal workers.
In a statement, Greg Regan and Shari Semelsberger, President and Secretary-Treasurer of the TTD, said: “We condemn this blatant attack on the bargaining rights of civil servants across more than two dozen federal agencies.”
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), America’s largest federal employee union, said in a statement that the executive order would impact about 1 million federal workers. “AFGE is preparing immediate legal action and will fight relentlessly to protect our rights, our members, and all working Americans from these unprecedented attacks,” the union said.
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FOLLOW-UP ON CSXT'S ZERO-TO-ZERO PLAN:
Field reports from BLET members document safety flaws with Trip Optimizer
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As documented by a BLET member, Trip Optimizer’s handling of a train caused excessive slack action, which resulted in a violent separation that ripped out this drawbar and initiated an emergency brake application.
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As reported last week, the BLET filed extensive comments with the Federal Railroad Administration raising questions about CSXT’s use and implementation of Trip Optimizer/Air Brake Control (TO/ABC, or “zero-to-zero”) technology.
Included in BLET’s filing were field reports from locomotive engineers who documented their first-hand experiences with Trip Optimizer system failures. Many noted that TO routinely fails to integrate with Positive Train Control.
Other important observations included:
- One engineer documented that TO stopped working when a locomotive’s microwave oven was in use.
- Another engineer documented how TO's train handling caused excessive slack action, which resulted in a violent separation that ripped out an entire drawbar and draft gear from the cushioning mechanism of the car, and initiated an emergency application of the brakes.
- One engineer perhaps summarized it best: “The fact the system still ‘freezes’ or constantly loses communication with the locomotive… should show that it is not ready for such advanced testing. In fact, the system as a whole should be the topic of great scrutiny by regulators before being advanced further.”
Zero-to-zero is an extension of TO. If fully approved, CSXT’s Product Safety Plan (PSP) would allow the zero-to-zero software to completely control a train’s air, independent, and dynamic braking systems. In other words, the software would operate and control the train’s movements — not a certified locomotive engineer.
In its comments, the BLET called upon the FRA to hold a public hearing on zero-to-zero to accept testimony from all stakeholders and the general public, which would likely result in additional reports such as those referenced above. BLET concluded: “Throughout these comments, we have made it clear that it is our position that TO/ ABC is unsafe and should not be approved for deployment. The BLET exists to protect and preserve the safety of our members. The TO/ ABC — zero-to-zero — software as it is currently being included with the PSP will not improve safety. The FRA should reject this product safety plan.”
A PDF of the BLET’s complete filing with FRA can be found on the National Division website.
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REMOTE CONTROL:
Two injured in CSXT remote control collision in Baltimore
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A remote control incident in July 2024 caused a CSXT locomotive to crash into a residential neighborhood in Niagara Falls, N.Y.
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Baltimore television station WBAL reports that a collision between two CSXT trains at the Curtis Bay Yard in Baltimore led to a derailment that injured two people on March 14. Two crew members were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
BLET sources say this is the latest in a string of accidents involving remote control locomotives. The March 14 incident involved a two-person remote control crew, who had a combined 11 months of railroad seniority. One worker was on the ground controlling the movement with the remote control belt-pack device, while the other worker was inside the cab of the locomotive to provide point protection. During a movement, however, the employee in the cab inexplicably failed to alert the operator of an obstruction ahead, causing the collision.
An inexperienced crew working in the dark of night (the accident happened around 2:45 a.m.) likely contributed to the accident. BLET sources say with confidence that this accident would not have occurred with a seasoned crew and a locomotive engineer at the throttle.
BLET has led the way in warning the public about the dangers posed by remote control locomotives. Since the Houston Chronicle published National President Eddie Hall’s column about Union Pacific’s use of remotes in 2023, major national news stories quoting BLET leaders have appeared in the Associated Press, NBC News and the New York Times.
Earlier this month, BLET First Vice President Mark Wallace met with Rep. Tim Kennedy (NY-26) regarding a number of high-profile remote control incidents that have recently taken place on CSX rail lines in the Congressman’s district, including one death and two life-altering amputations in Buffalo and a derailment in a residential neighborhood in Niagara Falls.
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NEW MEXICO:
In a unanimous vote, BLET-backed grade crossing bill is passed by NM House of Representatives
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The New Mexico House of Representatives unanimously passed a rail safety bill earlier this month designed to address the ongoing problem of blocked grade crossings in the state. Members of the BLET’s New Mexico State Legislative Board (NM SLB) spent significant time and effort in support of the legislation.
Blocked rail crossings in New Mexico have been a problem for years, and the issue has gotten worse as trains have become longer and longer.
House Memorial 41 was passed by a vote of 63-0. It requires:
- The New Mexico Department Of Transportation (NM DOT) to assess blocked train crossing times across the state and work with rail providers statewide to propose operational changes to limit blocked crossing times;
- The NM DOT to confer with railroad services using each crossing and unions representing employees of those railroads; and
- The NM DOT to report its findings and conclusions to the appropriate interim committees that studies transportation by September 1, 2025.
 The bill’s main sponsor was Representative Day Hochman-Vigil (House Majority Whip). Brother Clem Harris, Chairman of NM SLB, said, “Her leadership and guidance was an indispensable part of the process.”
HM41 came as a result of working with the railroads ahead of the session. Harris said an important reason for BLET’s support is that the memorial recognizes rail labor as a stake holder in the process and allows railroad workers to have a voice on where the problems really are.
“This is a huge win for rail labor in New Mexico for addressing the concerns of the membership legislatively at the state level,” Harris said. “Additionally, this memorial represents a first legislative win for the NM SLB and is also our first effort in building the bridges necessary to work on legislation that is important for our members.”
BLET members who worked to support the bill were Charlie Jeffcoat (Legislative Rep of Division 811), Steve Seale (Legislative Rep of Division 192), and John McGregor (Local Chairman of Division 192-Amtrak). “Without their help, this legislation would not have passed,” Harris said. “I also want to thank the Brothers on our Legislative Board for their help and guidance leading up to and throughout the session. Our success comes as a result of everyone on our board participating and helping out.”
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NJ TRANSIT:
Members can request replacement ballots beginning April 1
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New Jersey Transit members who need a replacement ballot should contact the National Division by phone at (216) 241-2630, ext. 222.
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BLET members are currently voting on the union’s tentative agreement with New Jersey Transit. Ballots were mailed earlier this month and are due by Tuesday, April 15.
Members who are eligible and have not received a ratification packet can request one beginning Tuesday, April 1. To request a replacement, please call the National Division at (216) 241-2630, ext. 222, and when connected with the extension, please leave the following information:
- Your name, address and phone number;
- The division to which you belong;
- The railroad you work for;
- Your date of birth;
- The last four digits of your Social Security number; and
- Your email address.
All replacement ballots will be distributed by email. Any member who requires a replacement ballot must include their email address in the voicemail; otherwise, they will not be able to participate in the ratification vote.
As reported in early March, BLET and NJ Transit have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. If the contract is ratified by the 460 BLET locomotive engineers and approved by NJ Transit’s board, it will end five years of contract talks that at times involved federal mediation and recommendations by two Presidential Emergency Boards.
Photo by Jason Burke
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PHILADELPHIA:
BLET member and SEPTA locomotive engineer found murdered; GoFundMe created to assist his three children
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In a shocking development for the close-knit members of BLET Division 71 who operate regional rail trains for SEPTA, locomotive engineer Jordan Baxter was found dead in his driveway on March 19. Jordan Baxter had been a member of Division 71 in Philadelphia for 10 years.
SEPTA General Chairman Don Hill described Baxter as a loving father of three. “Although he and his wife were separated and heading towards a divorce, Jordan maintained all the fiscal responsibilities of providing for his entire family. He regularly helped his children with all their school responsibilities. He helped with homework daily and anything that his estranged wife needed. His oldest son is autistic, which requires a lot of attention. Everyone who knew Jordan had nothing but kind words about him. He always had a smile on his face and had an uplifting persona.”
His children are now in the care of their grandparents (Brother Baxter’s mother and father) and will need substantial support. Hill said a GoFundMe has been established to help pay for Brother Baxter’s funeral and to help support his children. Any donation would be greatly appreciated.
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WISCONSIN:
BLET and Teamsters rally to support Judge Susan Crawford
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From left: BLET Division 174 member Eric Stroik with a fellow Wisconsin Teamster at the rally in Oshkosh.
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The race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court is one of the most important in the country, and the BLET and Teamsters are pulling out all the stops to support Judge Susan Crawford. BLET Division 174 member Eric Stroik, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin State Legislative Board, joined members of Teamsters Joint Council 39 and Local 344 at a large get out the vote rally in Oshkosh on March 21.
From canvassing and making calls to having conversations with their coworkers, Teamsters are doing whatever it takes to ensure every voice is heard on April 1.
If you’re a Wisconsin registered voter, don’t forget to vote in this important election. If you need information to find your polling location, visit: www.teamstersvote.com.
Teamsters photo
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