BLET News
Would anyone be proud of the UTU?
Bribes and kickbacks? High-priced management spin doctors on the payroll? Engineer only operations on freight trains? Yep. Eugene V. Debs would certainly be proud of an organization like the UTU.
Clarifying UTU smoke and mirrors
When sorting through the UTU’s latest smoke and mirrors attempt to obscure the truth (“How to smoke out a pair of skunks,” August 5), BLET and UTU members need to keep one fact in mind: No amount of spin doctoring will obscure the truth.
BLET remote control hazard study available
Due to overwhelming interest, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Traimen’s remote control hazard study has been made available on the BLET website.
Teamsters Disaster Relief Fund offering assistance in Alabama
The Teamsters Disaster Relief Fund recently received a Disaster Alert Notice for the state of Alabama following the impact of Hurricane Dennis.
UTU seeks sell-out of BNSF engineers
Once again showing its willingness to sell out operating crafts, leadership of the United Transportation Union has proposed eliminating locomotive engineer jobs on BNSF Railway lines in Washington and Oregon.
Franklin P. Greene Fund suspends lending
Don M. Hahs, BLET National President, announced today that the Franklin P. Greene Fund has suspended lending for the time being.
Utah Railway engineers, trainmen OK 5-year contract
Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen represented by the BLET ratified a new contract today with the Utah Railway.
Senate Commerce Committee takes up Amtrak funding
The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation approved S. 1516, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2005 by a vote of 17-4.
Inspector General’s Amtrak proposal wrong, BLET says
The Department of Transportation’s Inspector General again claimed that Amtrak could save between $75 million and $158 million annually by doing away with dining, lounge and sleeper cars, checked baggage service and food and beverage service on its long-distance runs.
BLET releases remote control hazard study
Major U.S. railroad corporations should no longer be permitted to operate remote control locomotives free from regulatory oversight by the Federal Railroad Administration (“FRA”).
Inexperience a factor again in remote control wreck
A serious remote control-related train wreck took place at the General Motors plant in Shreveport, La., on July 23, just one week after the technology was implemented at that location.
Hahs statement on withdrawal from AFL-CIO
As President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, the founding member of the Teamsters’ Rail Conference, I respect the decision of General President Hoffa and the Teamsters General Executive Board to disaffiliate from the AFL-CIO.
Statement of James P. Hoffa on the Teamsters’ disaffiliation from the AFL-CIO
I am here today to announce that the General Executive Board of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters has unanimously voted to withdraw our membership from the AFL-CIO.
BLET members urged to ask Congress to oppose CAFTA
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen are asked to call the House of Representatives and urge their Representative to oppose CAFTA–the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement.
Change to win coalition unions announce plans
The Change to Win Coalition unions announced the following plans today.
BLET members to vote on Division size initiative
BLET members will consider a constitutional provision this month that may impact the size of local divisions.
In the line of duty: Mark W. Cain and Arthur L.
BLET Division 203 (Jackson, Miss.) members Mark Cain and Arthur “Buddy” Irby were killed on July 10, 2005, when their CN/IC locomotives collided head-on in Anding, Miss.
BLET seeks human factors input on rule violations
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen is asking its members to participate in a voluntary program that will gather data to help eliminate the root causes of common railroad rule violations.
Inspector General’s report on Amtrak flawed
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen is supporting the National Association of Railroad Passenger’s opinion in regards to Department of Transportation Inspector General Kenneth Mead’s recent report.
Amtrak battle not finished
The House vote on Amtrak last week was not the end of the battle for the future of the rail carrier. The BLET and other members of the Amtrak Action Alliance are still working to obtain full funding for Amtrak.
Daily Headlines
Q&A: Comparison of benefits under Railroad Retirement and Social Security
The following questions and answers show the differences in railroad retirement and social security benefits payable at the close of the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021. They also show the differences in age requirements and payroll taxes under the two systems.
Class Is report slight uptick in July employment levels
Year over year, the category of transportation (train and engine) was up 1.59%.
FRA seeks comment on proposal to codify train crew size requirements
The Federal Railroad Administration is requesting public comment on a proposed rule that would require at least two crew members for most trains.
AFL-CIO kicks off Labor Day early with detailed political plan
The plan features massive from-the-ground-up member-driven involvement, including a feedback loop where workers’ recommendations will adjust the federation’s issue priorities between now and Election Day, and afterwards, President Liz Shuler said.
Can high-speed rail finally become a reality in the U.S.?
We are closer than ever before to the start of experiencing meaningful progress.
AAR reports rail traffic for the week ending August 20, 2022
For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 501,548 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.1 percent compared with the same week last year.
Rail traffic uptick for the week ending August 20
For the week ending Aug. 20, 2022, U.S. rail traffic was up 0.1% over the same week last year; total carloads came in 2.9% higher while intermodal volume continued its downward trend, dipping 2.4%.
Freight railroads, Amtrak ask for more time for Gulf Coast mediation
The parties in the dispute over Amtrak’s effort to launch Gulf Coast service have asked the Surface Transportation Board to extend the period for board-sponsored mediation by 30 days.
For the third time in a year, a freight train derails at the same spot in Tacoma
For the third time in a year, a freight train passing near the Port of Tacoma derailed, knocking down power lines and blocking traffic in the surrounding area Wednesday afternoon.
TSB issues safety recommendations following 2019 CN derailment investigation
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is calling for Transport Canada and the Canadian rail industry to expedite the implementation of automated train control systems and to develop and implement formal crew resource management training, following its investigation of the 2019 CN train collision and derailment in Manitoba.
