WASHINGTON, D.C. – Amtrak announced that it has named Charles W. “Wick” Moorman as its next president and chief executive officer. Moorman, retired chairman, CEO, and president of Norfolk Southern Corp. (NS), will lead the company, effective September 1, 2016, in the next fiscal year. Anthony Coscia, chairman of the Board of Directors of Amtrak said, “We are very pleased that someone with Wick’s experience and vision will lead Amtrak during this critical period as the company charts a course...

  The U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) yesterday released two rulings related to oversight of Amtrak operations, including a decision that it would withdraw an STB proposal that would have allowed railroads to prioritize freight trains over passenger trains. The board initially argued that its proposed preference policy would make the nation's railroad system in general more efficient. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) was in favor of allowing railroads the opportunity to give...

BLET NEWS FLASH http://www.ble-t.org/pr/news/newsflash.asp?id=5866 INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, July 18 — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) testified in favor of two-person train crews at a hearing convened by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on July 15, 2016, regarding the FRA’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on train crew size. Vice President and National Legislative Representative John P. Tolman testified on behalf of the BLET. VP Tolman conveyed the BLET’s...

http://www.ble-t.org/pr/news/newsflash.asp?id=5863 INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, July 8 — Brother E.G. (Jerry) LaPrath was elected by acclamation to the office of General Chairman at the Burlington Northern Santa Fe/Montana Rail Link (BNSF/MRL) General Committee of Adjustment’s (GCA) 14th triennial meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 20, 2016. A member of BLET Division 392 (Havre, Mont.), Brother LaPrath hired out in 1979 as a clerk with the Burlington Northern out of Laurel, Mont. He transferred to...

  6/22/2016 The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) recently announced a series of results from elections held in recent weeks: • David Spradlin was elected Kansas City Southern general chairman. He replaces Sam Parker, who retired after 20 years in the position. A member of BLET Division 573 in Greenville, Texas, Spradlin had served as secretary-treasurer the past eight years. • Kenny Hansen was elected chairman of the Iowa State Legislative Board. A Union Pacific...

  On Thursday, April 28, working families across the nation recognize Workers Memorial Day.  I encourage you to join your union brothers and sisters as they honor those who have lost their lives on the job and pledge to continue the fight for safer workplaces.   2016 Illinois Workers’ Memorial Day Events   Alton – Thursday, April 28, the Greater Madison County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO will hold their annual Workers’ Memorial Day services at the Workers Memorial Statue located in...

Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) ratified their first union contract with the Illinois Railway LLC last week, the union announced. Negotiations for an agreement began after the railroad's train and engine service employees voted in August 2014 to join BLET. More than 80 percent of members who cast a valid ballot voted in favor of the contract, according to a BLET press release. The four-year pact governs 32 members and sets hourly wage rates overtime and...

All 13 of Metra's labor unions have agreed to implement the Confidential Close Call Reporting System, the agency announced Tuesday. Metra is now the first U.S. commuter railroad to have a confidential reporting system that includes every union involved in its operations, Metra officials said in a press release. In April 2015, four of the railroad's labor unions agreed to implement the system. Under the voluntary safety reporting system, employees can anonymously report "close calls," such as...

http://www.ble-t.org/pr/news/newsflash.asp?id=5810 CLEVELAND, February 17 — The Teamsters Disaster Relief Fund is offering assistance to members living in Missouri after severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding caused major damage to homes and property from December 23, 2015 through January 9, 2016. Available from the BLET website are Teamster “Disaster Relief Alert Notices” and “Request for Help” forms. If you live in the affected area and experienced a loss due to this...