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BLET Weekly News Recap 6-22
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Distinguished speakers to address BLET members at Milwaukee regional meeting
An impressive array of speakers representing organized labor, politics, and railroad regulatory agencies will address BLET members at the union’s Western Regional Meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Tuesday, June 27.
Featured speakers will include Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Martin Oberman, and STB member Robert Primus. Additional confirmed speakers include BMWED President Tony Cardwell, TTD President Greg Regan, RRB Labor Member John Bragg, and BLET Auxiliary National President Kathleen Bisbikis. Andrea Wohleber, Senior Advisor with the Federal Railroad Administration, will also speak. Several video greetings are also on the agenda.
The BLET’s Western Regional Meeting in Milwaukee will take place June 26-30. The meeting on June 27 and officer training classes on June 29 are free for BLET members to attend. There is an additional cost for meals. On-site registration is open to BLET members through June 26. For more information, please visit: bletregionals.org/milwaukee. |
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BLET members ratify paid sick leave deal with Norfolk Southern
Nearly 95% of BLET Divisions representing locomotive engineers on Norfolk Southern ratified a new paid sick leave agreement with Norfolk Southern on June 19. The new deal provides NS engineers with five new days of paid sick leave per year and the flexibility to use up to two additional days as paid sick leave.
This agreement was the first to protect employees using paid sick leave from punitive handling under the Carrier’s attendance policy. Additionally, the agreement protected multiple pay provisions and further improved existing time off protections specific to engineers. The negotiating team consisted of General Chairmen Jerry Sturdivant, Dewayne Dehart, and Scott Bunton, with assistance from National Division Vice President Rick Gibbons.
GC Sturdivant said: “I believe this is a good start to addressing many quality of life issues that have too long eluded the railroad industry.”
GC Dehart said: “I'm proud that we were the first to negotiate paid sick leave for our members. It has been long overdue and should help railroads across the country to improve their quality of life without losing compensation. They will also not have to live with the fear of discipline just for being sick.”
GC Bunten said: “This historic ratification of a paid sick leave agreement for engineers will allow engineers to be sick and get compensated without fear of retribution. The BLET represents engineers and trainmen. This paid sick leave agreement coupled with the recent conductor agreement that gives conductors some of the benefits that the engineers have enjoyed for decades will enhance the lives of both crafts on and off the job.” Also, Bunten said the 2023 agreement between NS and the conductor’s union is almost a word-for-word copy of a 2015 NS-BLET agreement but provides conductors only about half the money provided under the 2015 BLET agreement.
In a joint statement regarding ratification, the General Chairmen thanked BLET National President Eddie Hall and Vice President Gibbons: “We are very proud to have negotiated a real benefit that will enrich the lives of every engineer on the Norfolk Southern system. Additionally, we want to thank VP Gibbons for his counsel and expertise during negotiations. Without Rick, this deal may not have come to fruition.”
The BLET continues to seek similar paid sick leave deals with the other Class I railroads. |
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| From left: STF National Coordinator Brian Fransen, Vice President & STF National Chairman Randy Fannon; and STF Assistant Coordinator Shawn Lawton. |
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BLET is well-represented as NTSB begins hearing on East Palestine derailment
​​As this weekly recap is published, BLET National Vice President Randy Fannon, who heads the BLET Safety Task Force (STF), is representing the union at the National Transportation Safety Board’s hearing regarding the Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The NTSB is presenting its findings and hearing reports about the fiery NS derailment and subsequent hazardous material release that took place on Feb.​ 3, 2023. Joining Vice President Fannon at the hearing is STF National Coordinator Brian Fransen and STF Assistant Coordinator Shawn Lawton.
Watch a live-stream of the June 22-23 hearing on the NTSB’s YouTube channel here. |
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| From left: Andrew Arias and Ray Vigil testified in favor of a rail safety bill in the New Jersey General Assembly on June 15. |
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BLET-backed Safe Rail Bill advances in New Jersey General Assembly
The BLET is working hard to secure passage of an important rail safety bill in the state of New Jersey. On June 15, New Jersey State Legislative Board Chairman Ray Vigil testified before the General Assembly’s Transportation Committee in support of Bill A5605, the Safe Rail Bill. Also testifying was Brother Andrew Arias, Secretary-Treasurer of the New Jersey SLB.
The Safe Rail Bill would mandate two-person train crews on all hazmat trains, would establish a maximum train length of 8,500 feet, and would establish minimum standards for wayside detectors.
Following the expert testimony of Brother Vigil and Brother Arias — both full time working locomotive engineers — the Transportation Committee voted 8-0 to approve the measure. The bill now advances to the floor for consideration by the full General Assembly.
Brother Vigil thanked the bill’s primary cosponsors, Transportation Committee Chairman Daniel R. Benson and Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez. He also thanked Assemblyman William W. Spearman, a Transportation Committee member, who voted in favor of the bill.
“This bill is all about safety, and we will continue to educate legislators on both sides of the aisle as this important legislation advances through the legislative process,” Brother Vigil said.
More information and a copy of the bill can be found on the New Jersey General Assembly website here. |
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New study examines effect of fatigue on train crew commutes to and from work
While fatigue in the railroad workplace is a widely acknowledged issue, a new study released by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on June 15 examines the impact of fatigue on train crews as they commute to and from work.
The 72-page fatigue study is titled “The Impact of Commute Times on the Fatigue and Safety of Locomotive Engineers and Conductors.” More than 9,000 railroad workers — 4,497 locomotive engineers and 4,587 conductors — participated in an online survey as part of the study, which was conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute in collaboration with the BLET and the FRA.
According to the survey’s findings, experiencing fatigue related symptoms during commuting to and from work can result in a “very real prevalence and danger not just to the driver, but also to the public and other road users.” Train crews with commutes of more than 60 minutes were 3 to 6 times more likely to experience a fatigue-related driving event (for example, nodding off behind the wheel or drifting out of traffic lanes) than those with a short commute.
The study identified the major contributors to rail worker fatigue, which include scheduling, or lack thereof in the case of irregular work. Variability in start times and frequent switching from day to night work were also associated with increased risk of fatigue for locomotive engineers and conductors.
Poor train lineups were identified as a major issue. “Interestingly, despite over 90 percent of locomotive engineers and conductors reporting that they were provided with a train lineup, which theoretically should reduce some uncertainty and unpredictability associated with their schedules, around three-quarters of locomotive engineers and conductors indicated that the information provided in the lineup was very unreliable. Having to operate with unreliable information may contribute to fatigue and levels of stress,” the survey said.
The survey also seemed to support the need for two-person train crews in the locomotive cab for an added layer of safety and to help mitigate fatigue. Survey respondents said the most frequently used and the most effective strategy when coping with fatigue was locomotive engineers and conductors talking to one another.
Download the full report as a PDF from the FRA’s website here. |
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| According to the survey’s findings, experiencing fatigue related symptoms during commuting to and from work can result in a “very real prevalence and danger not just to the driver, but also to the public and other road users.” |
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Mental health and other resources available to BLET members and their families
 We all have well-being challenges — from stressful situations like caregiving for a loved one to mental health conditions such as depression. Included in the Railroad National Health & Welfare Plan benefits, BLET members and covered family members can access United Behavioral Health. The United Behavioral Health benefit is open to members enrolled in an Aetna, Highmark, or UnitedHealthcare medical plan and includes access to a network of health clinicians who offer confidential health care for those BLET members and their family members who may be dealing with:
• Stress or anxiety
• Depression
• Alcohol and substance abuse
• Grief and loss
• Anger management
• And more
Please click here to view a PDF flyer that explains more about these resources, including telemedicine, behavioral health telemedicine, and new autism-related resources. |
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Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen · 7061 East Pleasant Valley Road · Independence, OH 44131 · USA
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