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 proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger.
This month, representatives of BLET and Teamsters Rail Conference participated in two major political events — the Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas and the Democratic Attorneys General Association annual meeting in Detroit — to educate leaders on both sides of the aisle about the harmful aspects of the proposed merger, which would weaken the railroad workforce, drive up rates for consumers, and hurt the nation’s supply chain.
BLET First Vice President Gary Best and representatives of the other half of the Rail Conference BMWED brought the voice of railroaders to the Republican Midterm Convention. BLET Assistant to the National President John Fink and Legislative Director of the Teamsters Rail Conference Alex Beckmann attended the Democratic Attorneys General Association annual meeting to discuss with Attorneys General, staff, and other stakeholders BLET’s and Rail Conference opposition to the merger.
The Rail Conference participated in the Republican convention as representatives of the Stop the Rail Merger Coalition. Brother Best said Union Pacific posted misleading signs throughout the Republican convention space claiming to speak on behalf of workers and farmers. These implications are not accurate. BMWED and BLET corrected the record with many GOP representatives while in Dallas.
The BMWED, BLET, and the Teamsters Rail Conference will continue to explore every opportunity to combat the UP-NS merger and build on our momentum with Republicans, Democrats, and Independents to oppose this proposed merger.