BLET News
Rail bosses tighten the screws on workers, representatives
CLEVELAND, Ohio, August 21, 2020 — As freight rail traffic levels rebound strongly from the economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, railroad management has unleashed an unprecedented barrage of measures to manipulate recalls from furloughs, make already draconian attendance policies even more punitive, and interfere with union representatives who fight to protect their…
Read MoreClass I railroads closer to fully implementing PTC
(Source: Freight Waves, August 14, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The U.S. operations of the Class I railroads are closer to reaching full compliance with the federal mandate to implement positive train control (PTC) by the end of December, according to data from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). Full story: Freight Waves Monday, August 17, 2020
Read MoreArbitrator approves replacing American crews with Mexican crews in Laredo
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, August 6 — A three-year contract struggle against actions by Kansas City Southern Railway Company (KCS) and its affiliate Texas Mexican Railway (Tex-Mex) to replace BLET-represented crews that shuttled trains between Laredo Yard and the U.S.–Mexico border concluded on August 4th, when a majority of a Special Board of Adjustment (SBA) ruled in…
Read MoreSenior vice president of operations and mechanical at Norfolk Southern abruptly leaves company
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, August 4, 2020) NEW YORK — After a year of leading NS’s “clean sheeting” initiative in a consulting role, Michael A. Farrell was named senior vice president transportation in Nov. 2018, then appointed senior vice president of operations and mechanical in Aug. 2019. Yesterday, NS president, chairman and chief executive…
Read MorePierce elected Chairman of CRLO
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, August 4 — BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce has been elected Chairman of the Cooperating Railway Labor Organizations (CRLO) following the retirement of long-serving Chairman Robert A. Scardelletti. His election became effective on August 1, 2020. The CRLO is a group of 12 Rail Labor unions that sit together to oversee the…
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