217.370.8505 cory@bletislb.org

ATDA ratifies the national mediated collective bargaining agreement

BLET NEWS FLASH http://www.ble-t.org/pr/news/newsflash.asp?id=6042 INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, November 28 — The American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA), a partner union of the Collective Bargaining Group (CBG), announced on November 27, 2017, that nearly two-thirds of...

Is this the beginning of the end for Metra?

November 15, 2017 Joe Cahill on Business Joe Cahill on Business Fare hikes have become routine for Metra riders after four consecutive annual increases. But the hike approved by Metra’s board last week is different. It comes with service cuts, marking the first...

Metra Is Trying Something New to Curb Its Suicide Problem

There’s no easy fix, but with incidents on the rail system increasing, officials are trying to tackle this hard-to-talk-about issue. BY KIM BELLWARE PUBLISHED MONDAY AT 3:10 P.M ILLUSTRATION: BRIAN STAUFFER Early in his career in the 1980s, Paul Piekarski faced the...

Veterans Day 2017

http://www.ble-t.org/pr/news/newsflash.asp?id=6014 By Dennis R. Pierce BLET National President INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, November 10 — Veterans Day was first celebrated in 1938 when it was known as Armistice Day. Armistice Day was primarily instituted to honor veterans of...

Brother Tim Simmons

 The sudden passing of Brother Tim Simmons “Pork Chop” Metra Locomotive Engineer from Division 294 Legislative Representative, 1st Vice Alternate Chairman. “May we ever be mindful that although Brother Simmons has departed from our midst, we will...

CREATE partners seek $160 million INFRA grant from feds

Rail News:  Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program (CREATE)partners yesterday submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation seeking a $160 million Infrastructure For Rebuilding America(INFRA) grant for several freight-...