BLET News
Registration open for BLET’s Clearwater regional meeting, July 22-26, 2019
Registration is now open for the BLET regional meeting at the Hilton Clearwater Beach hotel in Clearwater, Fla., July 22-26, 2019.
BLET lobbies Capitol Hill, regulatory agencies for crew member safety
BLET officers and staff invested a lot of legwork lobbying for rail worker safety during the early part of March 2019. The BLET lobbying effort was led by National President Dennis R. Pierce and Vice President and National Legislative Representative John P. Tolman, with invaluable support for BLET Director of Regulatory Affairs Vince Verna and BLET Legislative and Political Director Bob Hagan.
BLET to host Secretary-Treasurer class in June 2019
The BLET Education and Training Department will conduct a training class for Secretary-Treasurers from June 9-13, 2019, at the BLET National Division headquarters in Independence, Ohio.
Reminder: Space remains for April hazmat training program in Arizona
As a reminder, space remains for the Rail Hazmat Chemical/Emergency Response and OSHA Awareness Training Programs that will be held April 10-14, 2019, in Winslow, Ariz. The training is sponsored by the Rail Workers Hazardous Materials Training Program, and attendance is only open to railroad employees in Arizona, Western New Mexico, Southeastern California, and the Navajo Nation.
Reminder: Deadline is March 31 James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund applications
As a reminder, applications for the James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund are due on March 31, 2019. The application process is completely online and all applications must be completed through the online portal found on the Fund’s website: http://www.jrhmsf.org.
Registration open for BLET’s St. Louis regional meeting, June 24-28, 2019
Registration is now open for the BLET regional meeting at the Hilton at the Ballpark in St. Louis, Mo., June 24-28, 2019.
BLET reaches tentative agreement with TASI for Caltrain engineers
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative agreement with Transit America Services Inc. (TASI). Ballots have been mailed to active members of the BLET employed by TASI who are eligible to vote in the ratification of this agreement.
Open enrollment for the BLET Short Term Disability Enhanced-Plan coverage
Open Enrollment for the BLET’s Short Term Disability Enhanced-Plan through Sun Life will end on February 28, 2019. Those who enroll will have their coverage take effect on March 1, 2019.
RRB announces spring 2019 Pre-Retirement Seminars
The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has announced its schedule of Pre-Retirement Seminars for the spring of 2019.
Runion reelected to fifth term as Chairman of Wyoming State Legislative Board
Cory L. Runion was reelected by acclamation to his fifth term as Chairman of the Wyoming State Legislative Board during its triennial meeting held in Cheyenne, Wyo., February 5-6, 2019.
Rail hazmat training for Arizona, Western New Mexico and SE California workers
The Rail Workers Hazardous Materials Training Program is hosting Rail Hazmat Chemical/Emergency Response and OSHA Awareness Training Programs from April 10-14, 2019, in Winslow, Ariz. Attendance is only open to railroad employees in Arizona, Western New Mexico, Southeastern California, and the Navajo Nation.
Relief fund to assist families of fallen CP Rail Brothers
A relief fund has been established to assist the families of three members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) who died as a result of a major Canadian Pacific Railway (CP Rail) derailment on February 4, 2019.
Ballots mailed in tentative BLET, Alabama State Docks agreement
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative agreement with the Terminal Railway – Alabama State Docks (TRASD). Ballots were mailed today to active members of the BLET employed by TRASD who are eligible to vote in the ratification of this agreement.
BLET Initiates Online Division Secretary-Treasurer & Local Chairman Training in February 2019
The BLET’s Education and Training Department is proud to announce the availability of online video courses to provide convenient, repeatable, and cost-effective training for Division Secretary-Treasurers and Local Chairmen.
BLET Education & Training Department to conduct General Chairman class
The BLET Education & Training Department, in conjunction with the BLET Arbitration Department, is offering a General Chairman’s Class from
April 30-May 2 at the BLET National Division headquarters in Independence, Ohio.
BLET to conduct Legislative Representatives class in June
The BLET Education & Training Department, in conjunction with the National Legislative Office, will conduct a class for BLET Division Legislative Representatives in Washington, D.C., from June 3-6, 2019.
BLET members ratify new contracts with W&LE
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) overwhelmingly ratified two new collective bargaining agreements with the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway (W&LE) — one for the craft of locomotive engineer and one for the craft of trainman. Each seven-year agreement governs work rules, rates of pay, and health & welfare issues for approximately 75 locomotive engineers and over 130 trainmen. Ballots were counted on January 18.
2019 BLET Scholarship Directory
Each year, the BLET National Division compiles a list of scholarship opportunities available to the children of BLET members. Numerous financial aid opportunities are published here in the 2019 BLET Scholarship Directory.
BLET to host Local Chairman class in March 2019
The BLET Education and Training Department will host a Local Chairman training class from March 31 through April 5, 2019, at the BLET National Division headquarters and Training Center in Independence, Ohio. The class is designed to help Local Chairmen develop and hone the skills necessary to provide the best representation possible to our members.
BLET to host Secretary-Treasurer class in March 2019
The BLET Education and Training Department will conduct a training class for Secretary-Treasurers from March 10-14, 2019, at the BLET National Division headquarters in Independence, Ohio.
Daily Headlines
NTSB releases witness lineup for East Palestine investigative hearing
The National Transportation Safety Board Friday released the list of organizations providing witnesses for the two-day investigative hearing in East Palestine, Ohio, next week.
Railroad industry sues to block new locomotive pollution rules
The railroad industry on June 16 sued to block new environmental rules in California, arguing they would force the premature retirement of about 25,000 diesel-powered locomotives across the country long before their zero-emission counterparts are ready to take their place.
BNSF petitions FRA for waiver on extended haul trains
Specifically, BNSF requests a waiver extension from 49 CFR 232.12, Extended haul trains, to continue operating extended haul trains for distances of up to 1,702 miles, beyond the limit of 1,500 miles stated in the regulation.
Protesters interrupt Ohio House session to demand an East Palestine disaster declaration
Protesters interrupted a session of the Ohio House this week demanding that Governor Mike DeWine declare a state of emergency in East Palestine as a result of the catastrophic train derailment earlier this year.
NTSB cites slack action in final report on 2022 BNSF remote control fatality in Denver
Slack action was the probable cause of the Feb. 9, 2022, death of a BNSF Railway remote control operator helper who fell from the front platform of his locomotive in Denver, the National Transportation Safety Board said today.
CPKC has high hopes for new intermodal reefer service
Canadian Pacific Kansas City Rail (CPKC) is bullish on the prospects for its Mexico intermodal reefer service launched last month despite the closure last week of one of the pioneers of the concept.
Railroad history goes up for sale at Montana’s Izaak Walton Inn
They swarmed like hawks on roadkill along nearby U.S. Highway 2. On Saturday, hundreds of railfans, history buffs and curious locals descended on Montana’s Izaak Walton Inn to purchase whatever they could from the beloved railroad lodge that was recently sold and will soon be renovated by new owners.
Batteries on freight locomotives could be tapped to support the power grid in emergencies: study
If electric batteries become more common on the nation’s freight rail lines, researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory suggest those batteries could be called upon to deal with spikes in energy demand.
State, local government officials push Senate to take up rail safety bill
Blocked crossings and prevention of future derailments are among the key issues as three lobbying groups representing state and local governments push Senate leaders to bring the Railway Safety Act of 2023 to the Senate floor for a vote.
BLET National settles lawsuit filed by NJ Transit, but still at odds over contract
The engineers union maintains they are the lowest paid locomotive engineers in the New York-New Jersey region. The union has rejected offer that are patterned after what other rail unions agreed to because the offers don’t account for the highly technical nature of a locomotive engineers job.
