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UP-NS PROPOSED MERGER:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, in a Sunday front page story, highlights safety concerns with the proposed rail merger
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in a Sunday front page story that in the aftermath of the devastating 2023 East Palestine chemical spill and fire, Norfolk Southern invested hundreds of millions of dollars to boost safety through improved training programs, new technology, and a close call reporting program held in conjunction with BLET. In contrast, Union Pacific has not made the same level of commitment.
Last year, federal rail regulators canceled a safety culture assessment at UP alleging the railroad coached employees and threatened discipline.
In the article, that appeared online and in print on November 9, BLET National President Mark Wallace stressed that the union hasn’t taken a position on the merger yet based on a BLET-led review of 2024 safety data from the FRA, NS “has a far superior record in almost every category as compared to (UP).”
Wallace noted that NS has taken the lead over other Class I railroads on implementing C3RS, or Confidential Close Call Reporting, the voluntary program that allows railroad workers to anonymously report safety concerns without fear of discipline from their employer. While BLET and NS have collaborated on a C3RS pilot project for the past two years, UP has paid lip service and has been reluctant to join. A UP spokesperson was quoted as saying that the railroad is still “working through the process.”
President Wallace also was critical of UP’s dangerous push to expand remote control operations, in which the railroad has been operating long trains by remote control on mainline tracks and in densely populated areas outside of the confines of rail yards.
The AJC reached out to other rail unions for comment. Josh Hartford of IAM, which represents thousands of workers at both carriers, said that safety issues related to the merger is “a definite concern.” “There is a difference” between the two companies’ cultures he told the newspaper. SMART-TD “declined to comment on the two railroad’s safety records.”
The full story, “Norfolk Southern got safer after Ohio crash. Unions warn of merger risk,” is available here on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution website (behind a paywall).
Locomotive photos by Cory Rusch, BLET Division 659
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ATTENTION BLET MEMBERS IN PA and OH:
Three Town Hall meetings are scheduled for the coming week to discuss tentative national agreement — this follows similar meetings in Arizona and Texas
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All BLET members are invited to attend Town Hall meetings that have been scheduled to discuss the terms of the tentative national agreement. These discussions are an opportunity for members to hear directly from national officers, ask questions, and share feedback. Details are as follows:
Harrisburg, PA
Sunday, November 16, 6:00 p.m.
American Legion Post 751
295 W. Shady Lane
Enola, PA 17025
Pittsburgh, PA
Monday, November 17, 1:00 p.m.
Ramada by Wyndham Beaver Falls
7195 Eastwood Road
Beaver Falls, PA 15010
Toledo, OH
Thursday, November 20, 10:00 a.m.
Teamsters Local 20
435 S. Hawley Street
Toledo, OH 43609
BLET National President Mark Wallace, First Vice President Gary Best, National Secretary-Treasurer David Estes, Vice President Rick Gibbons, NS-Southern Lines General Chairman Jerry Sturdivant, NS-Northern Lines General Chairman Bob Peters, and NS-Southern Lines First Vice Chairman Shane Hubbard will be among those briefing members at the Pennsylvania and Ohio meetings.
Additional Town Hall dates and locations, both in-person and via Zoom, will be announced soon. Watch BLET social media and the Recap for details. Members can review the tentative national agreement in the Members’ Area of the BLET National Division website.
The Ohio and Pennsylvania Town Hall meetings follow similar meetings held in Arizona and Texas earlier this week. Members at those meetings heard details about the tentative agreement and engaged in a lengthy question-and-answer session with national BLET officers.
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NEW YORK:
BLET members ratify five-year deal with WNYP
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On November 11, BLET members ratified a new five-year agreement with the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad (WNYP), governing rates of pay, benefits, and work rules.
The agreement runs through 2030 and provides for a guaranteed 40-hour work week, a signing bonus, and annual general wage increases throughout its duration. The agreement also includes improvements to holiday pay, paid time off, and other provisions.
Members governed by this agreement belong to BLET Division 16, the union’s Short Line division. The negotiating team consisted of Grievance Chairman Frank Graves and National Vice President James Logan.
The WNYP extends across southwestern New York and northwestern Pennsylvania from Hornell, N.Y. to Meadville, Pa. and Oil City, Pa. and north and south of Olean, N.Y.
Photo by Cory Rusch, BLET Division 659
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CPKC:
BLET reaches tentative agreement for CPKC Soo Line locomotive engineers
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Ballots are due back to the National Division by Thursday, December 11. Photo by Cory Rusch, BLET Division 659
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The BLET has reached a tentative five-year agreement with the CPKC for locomotive engineers who work on the CPKC Soo Line territory. Ballots were mailed to members this week.
If ratified by the members, the deal would provide general wage increase of 17.5 percent (18.8 percent compounded) over the life of the agreement (2025-2029). Health and welfare benefits remain nationally negotiated. General Chairman Nick Mugavero said the tentative deal also contains several work rule improvements that are important to the members:
- Overtime after 12 hours daily on 4/3 assignments
- Ability to mark Extra Board position weekly on 5/2 and 4/3 work week schedule
- Increased meal allowance
- If double-pillowed, will immediately be placed first out and paid held away after 12 hours.
- Ability to “drop turn,” or essentially not be called to go on duty any later than 1200 the day before vacation to ensure they begin their vacation on time.
The negotiating team consisted of General Chairman Mugavero and National Vice President Pete Semenek.
Note to CPKC Soo Line members: Ballots are due by Thursday, December 11. Members who are eligible to vote and have not received a ratification packet by Monday, December 1, should call the National Division at (216) 241-2630, ext. 222. 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.
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PENNSYLVANIA:
BLET reaches tentative agreement with SEPTA
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Ballots are due back to the National Division by Thursday, December 11.
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The BLET has reached a tentative one-year deal with SEPTA for locomotive engineers who operate regional rail trains for the transit agency. Ballots were mailed this week.
If ratified by the members, the deal would build upon gains achieved in the previous round of negotiations by providing a general wage increase of five percent. The five percent wage increase would become effective on July 5, 2026.
The negotiating team consisted of General Chairman Don Hill, First Vice Chairman Maurice Landon, and Second Vice Chairman Terrence Sanchious, with assistance from National Vice President Jim Louis.
Note to SEPTA members: Ballots are due by Thursday, December 11. Members who are eligible to vote and have not received a ratification packet by Monday, December 1, should call the National Division at (216) 241-2630, ext. 222. 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.
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NTSB:
National Transportation Safety Board issues two safety advisories directed at conductors and other rail workers
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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued two safety alerts last week regarding rail operations: the first addressed the risks of shoving moves, and the second concerned the dangers of unexpected equipment moves. The BLET Safety Task Force urges all members to review and study both safety alerts and to remain vigilant while on duty.
SA-103, issued on November 5, warns conductors about the increased risk of death and injury while riding equipment during shoving movements. NTSB said that of the 20 conductor fatalities reported to the Federal Railroad Administration over a five-year period (January 2020-July 2025), 14 involved conductors riding trains during shoving movements. SA-103 provides safety guidance that conductors should follow while working with shoving movements. Click here to read SA-103 in its entirety.
SA-104, also issued on November 5, warns all railroad employees about the significant risk of injury or death from the unexpected movement of unsecured equipment on railroad tracks. NTSB said it has investigated five accidents in a one-year period (July 2024-July 2025) in which railroad employees were seriously hurt or killed when they fouled the track and were then struck by unsecured equipment. SA-104 reminds railroad workers to stay alert and expect equipment to move on any track, at any time, from any direction. Click here to read SA-104.
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CAPITOL HILL:
Federal government shutdown ends after 43 days, the longest in U.S. history
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The federal government shutdown that began on October 1 came to an end this week after Republican and Democratic Senators struck a deal on the evening of November 9. The 43-day shutdown was the longest in American history. The Senate on November 11 passed the deal by a 60-40 vote. The U.S. House of Representatives was brought back into session on November 12 and voted 222-209 to pass the deal. President Trump signed the legislation late on November 12, officially ending the shutdown.
Government agencies with oversight of the rail industry, such as the Federal Railroad Administration and the National Mediation Board (NMB), should now begin to resume normal operations though it may take them a few days to get up to speed.
Some vital rail safety initiatives were in limbo during the federal government shutdown, including the NTSB’s Rail Worker Safety Summit and the FRA’s safety culture assessment at the Union Pacific Railroad. Additionally, other operations were halted. For example, the NMB did not issue a public report on the recommendations of Presidential Emergency Board 253 at the Long Island Rail Road because the agency’s communications staff was furloughed.
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