The BLET Education and Training Department will conduct a comprehensive two-day training class for Local Chairmen and Vice Local Chairmen, with their respective Local Chairman’s consent. The class is designed to help Local Chairmen develop and strengthen the skills necessary to provide the highest level of representation for their members. This workshop will be held at the BLET National Division Headquarters in Independence, Ohio, on September 21-22, 2026.
Full-day classes will be conducted from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, September 21 and 22, 2026. Hotel check-in and travel day is Sunday, September 20, and hotel check-out and departure day is Wednesday, September 23. In addition to the in-person training, the class will also be available to remote participants in a hybrid format.
Among other topics, the class will cover the BLET organizational structure and functions, effective representation of members in disciplinary matters, union leadership skills, time claim and grievance handling under collective bargaining agreements, an overview of the Railway Labor Act, Section 3 and Section 6 notices, and the arbitration process.
All participants, whether attending in person or remotely, must register for the class at:
https://members.ble-t.org/EducationTraining/Register
Upon registration, participants will receive a confirmation email containing additional information. Members attending in person will be eligible for the special BLET hotel rate of $122.00 per night and will receive hotel reservation instructions in their confirmation email. Remote participants will receive Zoom access information. If you experience any difficulty with your hotel reservation, please contact BLET Special Representative Matthew Kronyak at [email protected] or (201) 978-6436.
Upon successful completion of the course, in-person attendees will qualify for a $110.00 per day stipend provided by the North American Railway Foundation (NARF). Stipends will be paid directly to the participant’s Local Division or General Committee of Adjustment, as applicable.
The North American Railway Foundation (NARF) is a non-profit foundation established by the Brotherhood’s Relief and Compensation Fund (BR&CF) to support rail labor through education, safety, technology, and the preservation of railroad history throughout the United States and Canada.
For additional information, please contact David P. Estes, National Secretary-Treasurer and E&T Department Head, at (216) 241-2630, ext. 227, or by email at [email protected].