General Information
Federal report sheds little light on impact of PSR
(Source: Trains Magazine, January 3, 2023) A Government Accountability Office report on Precision Scheduled Railroading says the impact of the low-cost operating model on safety and service is unclear. Rail worker complaints to the FRA regarding safety issues have increased sharply, however, rising from 200 in 2020 to 500 in 2021 and nearly 400 in…
Read MoreElection Statement by Dennis R. Pierce
Election Statement by Dennis R. Pierce December 16, 2022 The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, the founding member of the Teamsters Rail Conference, conducted the ballot count for the 2022 Election of BLET National Division Officers on Monday, December 12, 2022. BLET’s change from delegate elections in convention to rank and file elections of…
Read MoreQ&A: Credit for military service under the Railroad Retirement Act
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, November 22, 2022) CHICAGO — Many railroad employees have served in the Armed Forces of the United States. Under certain conditions, their military service may be creditable as railroad service under the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA). The following questions and answers provide information on how military service may be credited…
Read MoreBLET President Pierce statement on House vote to provide paid sick days to all railroad workers
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, November 30 — On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed two bills related to contract negotiations with the nation’s freight carriers. House Joint Resolution 100 was approved with a vote of 290 in favor, 137 opposed. This bill pertains only to the four rail unions whose members rejected tentative agreements reached in September.…
Read MoreBernie Sanders calls out Warren Buffett for getting richer as rail workers fight for better working conditions
Sen. Bernie Sanders has called out Warren Buffett for making billions of dollars, while rail employees are fighting for paid sick leave and better working conditions. “Warren Buffett, the owner of BNSF Railway’s parent company, became $1.38 billion richer yesterday,” Sanders tweeted on Wednesday, referring to the boost to Buffett’s net worth from Berkshire Hathaway stock closing higher on Tuesday. “In one day, Mr. Buffett made twice as much money as it would cost to guarantee 15 paid sick days a year to every rail worker in America,” the Vermont senator said. “The greed of the rail industry must end.”
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