BLET News
President appoints three to Railroad Retirement Board
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, February 7, 2019) CHICAGO — President Donald J. Trump has appointed Erhard R. Chorlé to be the Chairman of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board, Johnathan D. Bragg to be the Labor Member, and Thomas R. Jayne to be the Carrier Member. Their appointments to the three-member Board were confirmed…
Read MoreNorfolk Southern employee fatally struck by train in Baltimore
(Source: Baltimore Sun, February 7, 2019) BALTIMORE, Md. — A Norfolk Southern employee was fatally struck by a train in Baltimore Thursday morning. The National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending investigators to review the incident, which it said was an accident. Full story: Baltimore Sun Friday, February 8, 2019
Read MoreOregon considering bill to regulate oil trains
(Source: Television station KGW8, January 7, 2019) SALEM, Ore. — For the first time since the 2016 fiery train derailment near Mosier, Oregon lawmakers are considering their first bill to regulate oil trains. HB 2209 is simple in its language. It would require contingency planning around oil trains and require training for first responders. The…
Read MoreUnion Pacific: PTC equipment now in place on all required route miles
(Source: Progressive Railroading 02/06/2019) Union Pacific Railroad has installed positive train control (PTC) equipment on all its required route miles and implemented the system on all required passenger train routes, the Class I announced yesterday. Implementation efforts underway continue to ensure that PTC will be interoperable with other freight and passenger railroads operating on UP tracks by…
Read MoreUP workers win class certification in case alleging systemic violations of Americans with Disabilities Act
(Source: Nicholas Kaster, PLLP press release, February 5, 2019) MINNEAPOLIS — On February 5, 2019, the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska granted class certification to a group of Union Pacific employees alleging that Union Pacific engaged in a pattern and practice of discrimination in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”),…
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