BLET News
BLET National Legislative Board: Setting the agenda for 2024
National Legislative Board's 2023 annual meeting, from left: Cory Runion, Region 4; Brendan Sullivan, Director of Political Affairs; Herb Harris, Region 1; B.J. Trumble, Region 3; Vince Verna, VP & NLR; Eddie Hall, National President; Mark Wallace, First Vice...
BLET members ratify new collective bargaining agreement with Amtrak
Earlier today, BLET members ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with Amtrak. The new seven-year agreement was approved by a 550-479 vote of the 1,029 (73%) ballots cast. The contract governs locomotive engineers who operate Amtrak’s passenger and commuter...
GA-46000 Lifetime maximum adjusted for 2024
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 $188,000 to $195,100 on January 1, 2024. At the end of 2001, Labor and Management agreed on various...
BLET members ratify agreement with Keolis Rail Services Virginia
The agreement with Keolis governs rates of pay and health care benefits for locomotive engineers who operate trains for Virginia Railway Express. Photo: courtesy of VRE ____________________ On November 29, BLET members ratified a new five-year contract with Keolis...
New Jersey: BLET testifies in favor of rail safety bill at Senate hearing
From left: BLET’s Andrew Arias, NJ State Senator Patrick Diegnan, and BLET’s Ray Vigil at the New Jersey State Senate’s hearing to consider a rail safety bill on November 27, 2023. ____________________ Members of the BLET’s New Jersey State Legislative Board (NJ SLB)...
TTD urges Senate to act on NMB nominees
In a November 21 letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, urged the Senate to “expeditiously” schedule a floor vote on the reappointment of National Mediation Board (NMB) Members Linda Puchala and Deirdre...
BLET members vote unanimously to authorize a strike at SEPTA
BLET members who operate regional rail trains for SEPTA in Philadelphia and the surrounding area have voted to grant BLET National President Eddie Hall the authority to call a strike. Results of the vote count on November 20 show that of engineers eligible to cast...
Amtrak Passenger Engineers: Replacement ballot instructions
As announced on November 10 (https://blet.link/47n02YO), the BLET has reached a tentative agreement for more than 1,400 locomotive engineers who operate Amtrak’s passenger and commuter trains. Ballots were mailed on November 15. Eligible members who have not received...
Rail Labor partners with High-Speed Rail Authority
Artist's rendering of a California high-speed train. Image: courtesy of California High-Speed Rail Authority ____________________ The California High-Speed Rail Authority and 13 rail labor unions, including BLET, announced on November 17 that they have entered an...
TTD unions oppose increases to pilot retirement age at Fall Executive Committee meeting
TTD Fall Executive Committee meeting: From left: Political Analyst David Wasserman, TTD President Greg Regan and TTD Secretary-Treasurer Shari Semelsberger ____________________ The AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department (TTD) held its Fall Executive Committee...
BLET hosts Governor Evers for ride-along inside locomotive cab
Brother Chuck Schulz, Chairman of the BLET Wisconsin SLB (left), in the cab with Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers during his ride-along on November 15. ____________________ Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers got to experience firsthand what locomotive engineers and trainmen...
SEPTA’s locomotive engineers unanimously vote to authorize a strike
Results of the vote count today show that of engineers eligible to cast ballots, all voted to strike.
Rail labor unions back re-nomination of RRB Labor Member John Bragg
BLET stands with Bragg: From left: BLET National President Eddie Hall, Labor Member of the RRB John Bragg, BLET First Vice President Mark Wallace and BLET National S-T David Estes _____________________ In a November 13 letter to President Joe Biden, all 13 rail labor...
In depth ProPublica article exposes rail worker harassment and intimidation
A major investigative report published by ProPublica on November 15 exposes how America’s railroad corporations are intimidating workers by putting speed ahead of safety. According to the ProPublica team of investigative reporters, as railroads strive to move their...
Proclamation honors BLET’s 160th anniversary
From left: BLET member Alex Bing, Commissioner Lisa Sobecki, Commissioner Pete Gerken, BLET member John Esterly, and Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak. _________________________ The BLET received a proclamation from the Lucas County (Ohio) Board of Commissioners in...
Biden announces $16.4 billion for Northeast Corridor improvements
Major investment in passenger rail: President Biden announced $16.4 billion in funding for passenger and commuter rail at a November 6 press conference. (Image from White House YouTube video) __________________________ The Biden administration announced on November 6...
Veterans Day 2023: Thank you to our veterans and their families
On Veterans Day, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen thanks all of our veterans for your service to our Nation. We salute you for your contributions and sacrifices, which have made our country free and strong. Veterans Day is an important day of...
BLET reaches tentative agreement with Amtrak: Ballots will be mailed on November 15
The BLET has reached a tentative contract agreement for more than 1,400 locomotive engineers who operate Amtrak’s passenger and commuter trains over its 21,000-mile, 46-state route system.The seven-year tentative agreement includes full retroactive payments dating to...
2022 BLET Bylaws available online
Delegates consider changes to the BLET Bylaws while in session during the Fifth National Convention in 2022. _______________________ An electronic copy of the 2022 edition of the BLET Bylaws is now available in the Members’ Area of the Brotherhood’s website. The...
Railroad Retirement: Monthly annuities, earnings limits will increase in 2024
Most railroad retirement annuities, like social security benefits, will increase in January 2024. Cost-of-living increases are calculated in both the tier I and tier II portions of a railroad retirement annuity. The tier I portion, like social security benefits, will...
Daily Headlines
One crew member hurt as UP train derails after grade crossing collision near Fort Worth
One crew member suffered what were reported to be minor injuries after a Union Pacific train derailed after hitting a truck hauling an oversized load at a grade crossing west of Fort Worth, Texas, on December 17.
BNSF tells regulators that UP aims to block interchange access to proposed Utah short line
BNSF Railway this week asked federal regulators to ensure that it can use its trackage rights over Union Pacific to interchange with a proposed new short line railway in Utah.
EPA begins formal review of vinyl chloride, toxic chemical that burned in East Palestine
The Biden administration has initiated a formal evaluation of risks posed by vinyl chloride, the cancer-causing chemical that burned in a towering plume of toxic black smoke following a fiery train derailment earlier this year in eastern Ohio.
NTSB retires “Most Wanted List” of transportation safety improvements
The end of 2023 will mark the end of the National Transportation Safety Board’s Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements, the focus of the agency’s safety advocacy efforts for nearly 35 years.
North American rail volume decline continues through week ending December 9
Through the first 49 weeks of 2023 (ending Dec. 9), total North American carload and intermodal traffic fell 2.8% from the same period last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Dec. 13.
BNSF hit with lawsuit for grizzly bears killed by trains
The lawsuit claims trains on BNSF rail lines have struck and killed at least 63 of the threatened bears in northwestern Montana and northern Idaho since 2008.
Teamsters kick off first round of Presidential Roundtables
The union is scheduling with all campaigns and will announce additional roundtables in the New Year.
FRA’s proposed rule on certifying rail car origins earns kudos from trade groups
A proposed rule to prevent freight rail cars produced by Chinese entities from being used in the U.S. freight rail network is earning praise from the heads of the Rail Security Alliance (RSA) and the Railway Supply Institute (RSI), who view such rail cars as a potential threat to national security.
Canadian government announces second phase of new brake rules
The Canadian government has announced new rules regarding rail air brake inspection and maintenance, to take effect Dec. 1, 2025.
FRA proposes amendment to freight car safety standards in support of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
This proposed amendment, on which FRA is seeking public comment, aims to further enhance the safety and security of the U.S. freight rail industry by introducing crucial restrictions on newly built freight cars placed into service within the U.S.
