General Information
Opinion: When will Class I’s fulfill their C3RS commitment?
More than seven months after Norfolk Southern’s massive chemical spill and fire in East Palestine, Ohio, the rail industry continues to renege on its promise to improve safety by joining the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS). The BLET has publicly called out the Class I railroads for their apparent preference to discipline workers rather than take their…
Read MoreEducation & Training: Secretary-Treasurers complete workshop
Last week, the BLET National Division hosted approximately 25 Division Secretary-Treasurers and SLB S-Ts for a training class at National Division headquarters in Independence, Ohio. The in-depth training covered UnionTrack (the BLET’s system for membership reporting), proper recordkeeping techniques, methods for filing various Department of Labor and Railroad Retirement reports, and other important duties specific…
Read MoreGallup poll: More in U.S. see unions strengthening and want it that way
On the heels of Labor Day, a new Gallup poll shows that labor unions continue to enjoy high support in the U.S., with 67% of Americans approving of them. The poll shows Americans wanting union influence to strengthen, because they believe unions are a benefit to various aspects of business and the economy. Americans’ desire for…
Read More“Blaming workers creates the exact kind of environment where employees do not feel able to report unsafe conditions,” BLET tells DOT Buttigieg
The rail industry prefers to discipline workers rather than take their confidential input regarding safety improvements. That’s the hypocritical policy of the Association of American Railroads (AAR) in a letter to Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg dated August 24, 2023. This is a reversal from their public posturing earlier this year. Following Norfolk Southern’s…
Read MoreBallots mailed for tentative Portland & Western agreement
A contract ratification vote is underway for BLET members at the Portland & Western Railroad (PNWR). Ballots were mailed this week to members to vote on a tentative on-property agreement governing rates of pay, benefits and work rules for approximately 50 locomotive operating employees. The five-year tentative deal would run through December 31, 2028, and…
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