BLET News
“Not unlike the Postal Service:” Advocates want Amtrak to prioritize service over profit
(Source: New York Times, September 1, 2020) NEW YORK — For Amtrak, the coronavirus pandemic has not only slashed ridership and any chances of breaking even, it has also forced its leaders to face an existential choice: act like a for-profit airline or a government-subsidized entity. Full story: New York Times Wednesday, September 2, 2020
Read MoreUP to begin operating North Platte’s Bailey Yard as single classification yard
(Source: North Platte Telegraph, September 1, 2020) NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — The Union Pacific Railroad will consolidate its North Platte railcar-sorting operations in Bailey Yard’s newest and westernmost “hump yard,” the railroad said Tuesday. The announcement marks a major operational change at what long has been considered the world’s largest rail classification yard. Full story: North…
Read MoreMake sure your voice is heard in November
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, September 1 — In advance of the upcoming November elections, the BLET National Division has created a website to help members make sure their vote counts. Available here, the page is informational in purpose. It lets members check to confirm that they are registered to vote and provides the location of polling places. And,…
Read MoreRRB appoints Chief Medical Officer
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, August 31, 2020) CHICAGO — The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has appointed Dr. Elizabeth Bonson as its Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Bonson will provide expert medical guidance to the RRB’s Office of Programs, which is responsible for the adjudication of claims for disability annuities and sickness insurance benefits. Additional…
Read MoreRail unions score court wins on cross-border crews, crew-size bargaining
(Source: Trains Magazine, August 29, 2020) Railroad unions scored a pair of court victories on Friday, with rulings overturning the Federal Railroad Administration’s approval of use of Kansas City Southern de Mexico engineers for cross-border movements, and vacating an injunction that forced the union to bargain over crew size. Full story: www.trains.com Monday, August 31, 2020
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