BLET News

(Source: The Guardian, May 1, 2023) U.S. freight rail companies nearly spurred a nationwide railroad strike last fall by refusing to grant paid sick days, but in a surprise move welcomed by workers, those railroads have recently granted paid sick days to almost half their workforce. But the union representing workers who operate the trains day to…

(Source: Trains Magazine, April 27, 2023) The U.S. Department of Transportation has turned down a request for a permit to transport liquefied natural gas by rail from Pennsylvania to a terminal on the Delaware River, NJ.com reports. Full story: Trains Magazine

(Source: ProPublica, April 26, 2023) The blocked crossing problem is perennial, especially in cities that are near large train yards. But in the era of precision scheduled railroading, a management philosophy that leans heavily on running longer trains, residents, first responders, rail workers and government leaders told ProPublica it is getting worse as trains stretch…

(Source: Cap Times, April 27, 2023) The country’s largest labor union is calling for stronger safety protections for workers after a new report found more than 5,000 people died on the job in 2021, including 105 in Wisconsin. The AFL-CIO details the findings in the latest installment of its annual report evaluating health and safety conditions for…

(Source: Reuters, April 26, 2023) The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on Wednesday said a Republican budget cut proposal would result in nearly 7,500 fewer rail safety inspection days and over 30,000 fewer miles of track inspected annually, at a time when lawmakers are calling for more inspections in the wake of the Norfolk Southern…