MAY 2018 Volume 32, Issue 5 Daily news updates ocomotive WWW.BLE-T.ORG LE NGIN ee RS & T RAINM E N N E WS Published by the BLET, a division of the Rail Conference,• International Brotherhood of Teamsters Honoring first responders Spanning the ex-Virginian Railway bridge at Slab Fork, Norfolk Southern’s “Honoring First Responders” EMD SD60E No. 911 leads empties toward Alloy Yard from Mullens on Watco’s Kanawha River Railroad on January 24, 2017. Photo: Chase Gunnoe BLET files joint comments regarding rail industry automation he Brotherhood of Locomo- Signatories to the 26-page joint sub- its mandate from Congress, which reads to protect the jobs and incomes of their tive Engineers and Train- mission were: National President Den- in part: “[i]n carrying out its duties, the members should not be used to discount men (BLET) was one of five nis R. Pierce, Brotherhood of Locomo- Administration shall consider the as- their arguments on behalf of safety. rail Brotherhoods to file tive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET); signment and maintenance of safety as “Discounting our safety concerns joint comments on May 7 President John Previsich, SMART Trans- the highest priority, recognizing the because we fight to preserve jobs and in response to the Federal Railroad Ad- portation Division; President W. Dan clear intent, encouragement, and ded- earnings is the most extreme form of Tministration’s (FRA) March 29 Request Pickett, Brotherhood of Railroad Signal- ication of Congress to the furtherance double standard, given the profit-seek- For Information (RFI) regarding auto- men (BRS); President F. Leo McCann, of the highest degree of safety in rail- ing goal of the industry underlying its mation in the railroad industry. American Train Dispatchers Association road transportation.” support of automation it may advocate,” In general, the unions asserted that (ATDA); and General President Richard “As such, safety must be first and fore- the unions wrote. public and worker safety is their top A. Johnson, Carmen Division/TCU. most when discussing the future of au- Another major assertion from the priority, and also stressed that any roll- The unions noted that safety should tomation of our nation’s railroads,” the unions is that a tight regulatory frame- out of new technologies and/or auto- be the top goal of all involved stake- unions wrote. “It would be unethical and work with clearly defined terminologies mation should only be done cautious- holders — especially the FRA — when would violate the mandate of Congress is a must when exploring the future of ly under well-defined government considering the future of rail automa- to sacrifice safety for potential profits.” automation. safety regulations. tion. The unions reminded the FRA of The unions also noted that their duty Continued on page 3 • “Discounting our safety concerns because we fight to preserve jobs and earnings is the most extreme form of double standard, given the profit-seeking goal of the industry underlying its support of automation it may advocate.” – Rail Brotherhood Joint Statement BLET President’s Message California SLB Meeting Ohio, Missouri SLB Meetings Building strength Chairman Ryan Snow elected Ohio’s Price elected to first term; from the ground up pg. 2 to second term pg. 4 Groose new Chair in Mo. pg. 5 Register• for News Flash email alerts at: www.ble-t.org/newsflash Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BLETNational• 2 WWW.BLE-T.ORG BLET PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE BY DENNIS R. PIERCE Building strength from the ground up s many of you know settled a member’s wrongly de- from having met nied claim; taking hard earned with me in the field, money back from the railroad getting to know our and putting it into the member’s Arank and file members on a one- pocket, where it belonged. to-one basis is a top priority for The BLET National Division me as your National President. is here to help those who are As I write this message for our elected. Our Education and May 2018 issue of the Locomo- Training Department helps our tive Engineers and Trainmen newly-elected Division officers News, I am energized from hav- get the training they need in or- ing attended BLET State Legis- der to succeed. Our specialized lative Board meetings in Michi- training classes can help the new- gan, California, Ohio and est Local Chairman learn to be Missouri, as well as a meeting of successful in representing mem- BLET’s Western General Chair- bers during investigations. Leg- men’s Association. It is always islative Representatives learn how invigorating to participate in to effectively lobby legislators and Brotherhood events where the President Pierce addresses delegates attending the to guide worker-friendly bills membership is so actively in- California State Legislative Board’s quadrennial meeting in April. through the halls of government. volved and dedicated to the each and every month. ally get their first chance to get leaders. This bottom-up struc- Secretary-Treasurers learn the union movement. It’s important to remember involved at the ground level of ture is the foundation of our proper way to handle dues re- I have worked very hard to be that our Brotherhood is a mem- union involvement. The desire of strength today and the basis of porting and how to file the nec- accessible to all members because ber-run and member-led organi- these proud Brothers and Sisters our success in the future. essary paperwork to keep their it enables me to better under- zation. As such, our success de- to make a difference and to make When I first became a Local financial records in order. More stand what is going on in the in- pends on the membership being our Union stronger is the back- Chairman, it was because I was advanced courses are offered to dustry through your experienc- involved, and more importantly, bone of our Organization, and it tired of the way I was being treat- officers with more experience. es. This is one of the most requires that a sufficient number is also what makes us different ed by the railroad, and thought With Local Division triennial important parts of my job, be- of members be involved as offi- from most other organizations. I could make a difference. I was elections just months away, now cause we are at our strongest as cers of each Local Division. There is no CEO in a labor told that I was too young, that I is the time for the next generation a Union when more and more With the Brotherhood’s trien- union who selects the next gen- didn’t have enough seniority, and of union members to step up and members become directly in- nial Local Division elections com- eration of the union’s young of- when I got elected I was tested make their contribution to the volved in our shared future. ing up later this year, I would en- ficers; it is the members who by members who did not sup- Brotherhood’s 155-year-old re- One of the best ways to be courage you to be involved in the own that right. There also is no port me. None of that dimin- cord of distinguished service. I involved with your Union is to process to ensure that your Local top down directive as to who ished my support of the Union strongly urge you to be a part of be involved in the activities of Division fills all officers’ positions should hold key positions in our movement, or my desire to do that process. your Local Division. This is with the most qualified members. Local Divisions; again, it is the right by all members that I rep- where the ground level democ- This local election process is membership’s right to select resented. I still remember the Dennis R. Pierce racy of our union is exercised where energetic members gener- their own representatives and pride I felt the first time that I BLET National President BLET CELEBRATES 155TH ANNIVERSARY he Brotherhood of Locomotive miles each month, regardless of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) time consumed. (BLE) was adopted at the first national T proudly marked its 155th anni- The BLET was the first labor organi- convention held in Indianapolis in Au- versary on May 9. The union was found- zation to obtain contracts with railroads. gust 1864. ed as the Brotherhood of the Footboard Among the earliest was an agreement Greater safety on the job and great- on May 8, 1863 in Marshall, Mich. In with the former New York Central in er safety for the shipping and travel- 1864, the union changed its name to 1875. Today, the BLET has hundreds of ing public have always been BLET’s Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers contracts with railroads large and small, goals. Legislative activities by the BLET (BLE), the name it retained for 140 years and represents locomotive engineers and other rail unions have resulted in until merging with the International on 98 percent of rail trackage in the the Locomotive Inspection Act and stat- Brotherhood of Teamsters on Jan. 1, United States. utes requiring the use of air brakes, 2004, when it became the BLET. The In the three decades before the found- automatic couplers, electric headlights, BLET is the oldest labor union in the ing of the BLET, locomotive engineers power-reverse gears and other tech- Western Hemisphere. suffered abominable working conditions. nological improvements. The BLET was The organization was formed in The 24-hour workday was common- 19 men of the craft together at his home elected Robinson as their Grand Chief again at the forefront in persuading the early 1860s when locomotive en- place.