BNSF spends almost $2 billion to maintain track network
6/17/2009
Tie gangs have been repairing and maintaining tracks along the BNSF route from Chicago to Seattle.

BLET, UTU file joint petition to prohibit one-person crews
6/12/2009
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the UTU have filed a petition for an emergency order with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) seeking to prohibit the use of one-person train crews — including conventional and remote control yard switching operations.

Final FMLA remedy a win for Rail Labor
6/11/2009
Certain BLET members working for the nation’s four largest railroads will receive one day’s pay for each vacation and/or personal leave day they were forced to use instead of Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave.

Obama taps Trottenberg as USDOT transportation policy secretary
6/4/2009
Last week, President Obama announced his intention to nominate Polly Trottenberg as assistant secretary for transportation policy at the U.S. Department of Transportation.

BNSF to replace more than 70 miles of rail in South Dakota
6/2/2009
The BNSF Railway Co. plans this month to start the first of five projects in South Dakota to replace about 73 track miles of rail along its system.

Railroad Limo Safety bill becomes law in Texas
5/23/2009
On May 23, Texas Governor Rick Perry signed the Railroad Limo Safety Improvement bill into law. Passage of the bill culminates efforts that the Texas State Legislative Board (TSLB) of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) initiated in August of 2006.

COBRA subsidy information available
5/21/2009
The American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), which was signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009, may temporarily reduce the premium you have to pay to purchase COBRA continuation coverage under the medical, dental and/or vision plans for yourself and your qualified dependents, if you meet certain criteria.

New federal law requires RR employees to provide dependent Social Security Numbers
5/19/2009
The Railroad Employees National Health and Welfare Plan (The Plan) is participating in an all-out effort to obtain Social Security Numbers (SSNs) for all covered dependents (wives, husbands and children) in order to achieve compliance with these new reporting requirements.

Court upholds DOT direct observation, strip search regulations
5/18/2009
On Friday, May 15, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied a petition for review of two Department of Transportation (DOT) drug testing regulations that were published last year. The legal challenge had been filed by the BLET and eight other unions, including the Teamsters and the UTU, along with the BNSF Railway.

Willard Knight new BLET National Vice President
5/11/2009
Willard E. Knight was elevated to the position of National Vice President of the 59,000-member Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.

BLET marks 146th anniversary today
5/8/2009
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) marks its 146th anniversary today. The union was founded as the Brotherhood of the Footboard on May 8, 1863 in Marshall, Mich.

Western General Chairmen elect officers
5/1/2009
In meetings here yesterday, the BLET’S Western General Chairman’s Association (WGCA) elected officers for a new term and concluded their annual business meeting.

Senate confirms Szabo's nomination as FRA administrator
4/30/2009
Next month, Joe Szabo will become the 13th administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). Yesterday, the Senate confirmed his nomination as the agency’s leader.

Wayside horns tested at BNSF tracks in Fort Collins, Colo.
4/29/2009
This Tuesday, a Texas engineering firm demonstrated how a simulated horn could replace a real train blaring at crossings in Loveland.

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