BLET Opposes UP-NS Merger
The proposed merger will make railroads less competitive and expand the use of unsafe practices.
On July 29, 2025, Union Pacific announced its intention to acquire Norfolk Southern. If the Surface Transportation Board (STB) approves the acquisition, the merged railroad would raise prices for consumers, weaken the railroad workforce, and hurt the nation’s supply chain.
The Teamsters Rail Conference, comprised of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED), is opposed to this potential merger. The Teamsters Rail Conference is a founding member of the Stop the Rail Merger Coalition. The Coalition represents a broad cross-section of the U.S. economy and is united against a merger that would weaken the railroad workforce, reduce competition, increase costs, and weaken America’s supply chain.
Stop the Rail Merger
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Featured Items
August 18, 2026
Surface Transportation Board’s projected timeline for consideration of the UP-NS merger
August 3, 2026
April 29, 2026
December 17, 2025
Statement by International Brotherhood of Teamsters opposing proposed UP-NS merger
December 17, 2025
Statement by BLET and BMWED opposing proposed UP-NS merger
Government Concerns
Latest News
Railroads “have a long way to go” to prove merger is in the public interest
In a decision announced recently, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) made clear that it has “reached no conclusions on the merits” of the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger, while...
BLET launches online portal: Tell the STB you are opposed to the UP-NS merger
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is seeking public comments on the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger. We believe our union members’ voices should be part of that record. BLET,...
Spread the word: BLET, National League of Cities team up to teach local governments how to participate in the UP-NS merger review
Jess Conard, who recently joined the BLET National Division staff as Community Coordinator, received an invitation to speak on a webinar hosted by the National League of Cities (NLC) to provide a...
Long-term impact of the UP-NS merger on jobs in the industry
Rail industry trade publication Railway Age published an article last week that reinforces the job-loss concerns BLET and the Teamsters Rail Conference have raised since Day 1. BLET has taken the...
Newest STB member criticizes UP-NS merger application
(Source: Trains.com, September 22, 2026) When the Surface Transportation Board shot down requests to summarily dismiss the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger application on September 18, the...
BLET takes a strong bipartisan approach to educate Democrats and Republicans about harmful aspects of the proposed merger
Left, right, Democrat or Republican, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) continues to work across party lines to best represent its members and build opposition to the...
Rail labor opposition to UP-NS merger grows as TCU/IAM and IAM District 19 join Stop the Rail Merger Coalition
More opposition to the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger emerged recently, with additional rail unions joining the Stop the Rail Merger Coalition. The Transportation Communications Union...
More than 100 members of Congress demand that the STB ensure rail worker jobs are protected if UP-NS merger is approved
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are circulating a signed letter urging the federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) to consider the consequences of the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern...
Stop the Rail Merger Coalition writes letter to White House opposing UP-NS merger
On August 24, the Stop the Rail Merger Coalition wrote a letter to President Trump outlining why it opposes the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger. The letter warns that the merger would...
The ABCs of the STB: What is the Surface Transportation Board?
The railroad industry, including rail labor, likes to throw around a lot of letters. There’s an “alphabet soup” of acronyms that frequently appear in industry and union news sites and publications,...
About the Teamsters Rail Conference
The Teamsters Rail Conference represents nearly 20,000 members at Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, split between the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED).
- At Union Pacific, there are roughly 6,400 BLET locomotive engineers and 6,500 BMWED maintenance of way workers.
- At Norfolk Southern, there are 3,800 BLET locomotive engineers and 3,400 BMWED maintenance of way workers.
- The two unions combined represent approximately 53% of the unionized workforce at both railroads