General Information
Blame the workers: Despite previous promises, railroads resist joining confidential safety program because they want to be able to discipline workers
The major freight railroads say a disagreement over whether they will be allowed to discipline some workers has kept them from following through on the promise they made back in March to join the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS). The Association of American Railroads sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg this…
Read MoreUnions urge Class Is to enroll in close call safety reporting system
(Source: Progressive Railroading, August 18, 2023) The Transportation Trades Department (TTD) of the AFL-CIO has urged the CEOs of six major freight railroads operating in the United States to formally join the federal Confidential Close Call Reporting System. The system enables rail workers to confidentially report “close call” safety incidents to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) without fear…
Read MoreBLET to hold Local Chairman training class, October 23-27, 2023
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, August 10 — The BLET Education and Training Department will conduct a Local Chairman training class from October 23-27, 2023, at the BLET National Division headquarters in Independence, Ohio. The course is designed to help Local Chairmen develop and enhance the skills necessary to provide the best representation possible to our members. The…
Read MoreAAR: North American rail volume down through 31 weeks
(Source: Railway Age, August 9, 2023) For the first 31 weeks of 2023 (ending Aug. 5), total U.S. weekly rail traffic dipped 4.1% from the same point last year, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) Aug. 9 report. Both Canada and the U.S. saw declines, while Mexico saw an increase. Full story: Railway Age
Read MoreFederal judge denies NJ Transit’s frivolous nuisance motion to block BLET strike authorization vote
CAMDEN, N.J. — On Thursday afternoon, the Hon. Christine O’Hearn, a judge on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, denied NJ Transit’s (NJT) cynical attempt to strip members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) of their legal right to hold a strike vote under the rule of…
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