BLET News

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, February 28 — Registration is now open for the BLET regional meeting at the Hilton at the Ballpark in St. Louis, Mo., June 24-28, 2019. The BLET National Division is planning a meeting filled with educational opportunities and entertaining leisure time activities. Guests will stay at the Hilton at the Ballpark (1 South…

(Source: CNN, February 27, 2019) SEATTLE — Finn Friedman chose to take the train because she’s terrified of flying. After all, the journey from Seattle to Los Angeles on Amtrak’s Coast Starlight is supposed to be a scenic 35-hour trip across mountain ranges, along an ocean shoreline and through forests. Instead, for the nearly 200…

(Source: CNN, February 26, 2019)  ATLANTA — An Amtrak train headed for Los Angeles with almost 200 people on board came to a standstill Sunday evening after hitting a tree that had fallen onto the tracks. Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari told CNN that none of the 183 passengers and dozen crew members were injured, but…

(Source: National Law Review, February 24, 2019)  WASHINGTON, D.C. — On February 19th, a Colorado jury awarded Brandon Fresquez $1,050,000 in damages in his FRSA whistleblower retaliation claim against BNSF Railway Company. The verdict form reveals that the jury awarded $800,000 in emotional distress damages and $250,000 in punitive damages. This significant win underscores the…

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, February 25 — 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. If you are a locomotive engineer working on a participating railroad, your BLET Short Term Disability Base-Plan coverage will…