BLET News
President Pierce discusses two-person train crews and safety in radio interview
CLEVELAND, May 29 — On May 27, BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce conducted an interview with America’s Work Force, a daily labor-radio program. Among other items, President Pierce discussed the BLET’s efforts to maintain two-person train crews in the rail industry, H.R. 1763 (the Safe Freight Act), and the ongoing battle to resist single-person…
Read MoreBLET statement on Amtrak train 188 derailment
CLEVELAND, May 16 — As part of its party status agreement with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) does not make official comments about the details of any ongoing accident investigation, nor does BLET speculate on the events that may have contributed to such an accident during…
Read MoreBLET marks 152nd anniversary today
CLEVELAND, May 8 — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen proudly celebrates its 152nd anniversary today. The union was founded as the Brotherhood of the Footboard on May 8, 1863 in Marshall, Mich. In 1864, the union changed its name to Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE), the name it retained for 140 years until…
Read MoreCourt victory vindicates BLET position on two-person train crews
CLEVELAND, April 21 — In a major legal victory to protect two-person train crews, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has ruled in favor of BLET’s position that the Wheeling & Lake Erie’s use of managers in place of Union conductors is a major dispute under the Railway Labor Act. The ruling…
Read MoreDoug Horstman, former Oregon State Legislative Board Chairman, 1954-2014
CLEVELAND, April 15 — Douglas S. Horstman, former Chairman of the BLET’s Oregon State Legislative Board, passed away after an extended illness on April 6, 2015. Brother Horstman, 60, was a Union Pacific locomotive engineer who joined BLET Division 362 (La Grande, Ore.) on May 1, 1977. He held continuous membership in the BLET until…
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