BLET News

(Source: Railway Age, July 11, 2017) NEW YORK — The White House on July 10 announced that President Donald Trump intends to nominate Ronald L. Batory, who recently retired as President and Chief Operating Officer of Conrail, as the next Federal Railroad Administrator. Full story: Railway Age Tuesday, July 11, 2017

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, July 7 — As part of our ongoing effort to conclude national contract negotiations, the Coordinated Bargaining Group (CBG) met with the nation’s freight rail Carriers (NCCC) for three days during the week of June 26th. These efforts were part of our ongoing mediation process, mandated by the Railway Labor Act when the…

(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, July 6, 2017) CHICAGO — The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) administers the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, which provides two kinds of benefits for qualified railroaders: unemployment benefits for those who become unemployed but are ready, willing, and able to work; and sickness benefits for those who are unable to work…

(Source: thehill.com BY MELANIE ZANONA – 07/06/17 ) A federal watchdog is probing how railroads are implementing train safety technology amid concern that some systems are not moving fast enough to meet an upcoming federal deadline. The Department of Transportation’s inspector general announced this week that the office is conducting a new audit to explore how railroads are using…

(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, July 5, 2017) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending July 1, 2017, as well as volumes for June 2017. U.S. railroads originated 1,065,976 carloads in June 2017, up 4.4 percent, or 45,174 carloads, from June 2016. U.S.…