BLET News
Open enrollment for 2024 Health FSA to run from now to October 31, 2023
From now until midnight on October 31, 2023, you can enroll or change your Medical or Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA) benefit selections for the 2024 benefit year. Members must enroll in the Health FSA every year — FSA enrollment is not automatic each year, and interested members should act soon so they do not…
Read MoreNTSB chair says new locomotive camera rule is flawed because it excludes freight railroads
(Source: Associated Press, October 12, 2023) Passenger railroads nationwide will now be required to install video recorders inside their locomotives, but the head of the National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday the new rule is flawed because it excludes freight trains like the one that derailed and caught fire in eastern Ohio earlier this year.…
Read MoreRRB Q&A: Dual benefit payments
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, October 2, 2023) The payment of a railroad retirement annuity can be affected by entitlement to social security benefits, as well as certain other government benefits. Such dual entitlement, if not reported to the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), can result in annuity overpayments which have to be repaid, sometimes…
Read MoreEducation & Training: Secretary-Treasurers complete workshop
Last week, the BLET National Division hosted approximately 25 Division Secretary-Treasurers and SLB S-Ts for a training class at National Division headquarters in Independence, Ohio. The in-depth training covered UnionTrack (the BLET’s system for membership reporting), proper recordkeeping techniques, methods for filing various Department of Labor and Railroad Retirement reports, and other important duties specific…
Read MoreGallup poll: More in U.S. see unions strengthening and want it that way
On the heels of Labor Day, a new Gallup poll shows that labor unions continue to enjoy high support in the U.S., with 67% of Americans approving of them. The poll shows Americans wanting union influence to strengthen, because they believe unions are a benefit to various aspects of business and the economy. Americans’ desire for…
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