Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen

Trucking, rail implore Washington to help fight cargo theft

WASHINGTON — As monetary costs and safety risks rise in proportion to the increase in cargo theft, freight carriers are upping the pressure on lawmakers for a more coordinated government response to combat the problem.

For the second time in two months, representatives from the trucking and railroad industries participated in hearings on Capitol Hill focused on the problem, which shows no signs of going away.

“Trucking companies are either victims of cargo theft or they’re spending so much money...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/trucking-rail-implore-washington-to-help-fight-cargo-theft

Locomotive engineers’ union calls for limiting freight train lengths

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The argument over whether the Class I railroads should deploy longer trains continues, with the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/locomotive-engineers-union-calls-for-limiting-freight-train-lengths

Railroads reach deals with unions on sick leave, conductor training

Class I railroads BNSF and CSX have announced agreements with key labor groups: BNSF reached a sick leave and work-rest agreement with the union representing locomotive engineers, while CSX and the union representing conductors partnered to enhance CSX’s training program for conductors.

BNSF strikes sick leave and work-rest agreement with BLET

Western U.S. rail carrier BNSF has reached a systemwide agreement for sick leave with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/railroads-reach-deals-with-unions-on-sick-leave-conductor-training

Norfolk Southern reaches sick leave agreement with locomotive engineers

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Norfolk Southern and one of the largest unions, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/norfolk-southern-reaches-sick-leave-agreement-with-locomotive-engineers

Train length and train crew sizes see state legislative action

Two popular issues among rail unions — train lengths and train crew sizes — have gained traction in state legislatures, with a bill in the Nevada legislature limiting train lengths and a provision requiring train crew sizes of at least two people becoming law in Ohio.

In Nevada, Assembly Bill No. 456 seeks to prohibit trains more than 7,500 feet long on main lines, which would consist of railroad tracks that see 5 million gross tons or more transported annually, as well as on lines that branch...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/train-length-and-train-crew-sizes-see-state-legislative-action

CN reaches labor agreement with Unifor

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Canadian railway CN has reached tentative agreements with two labor groups affiliated with Unifor, a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/cn-reaches-labor-agreement-with-unifor

Rail workers say safety legislation doesn’t go far enough

Rail union groups are lending support to federal officials’ calls to reform rail safety but say even more steps can be taken to implement and bolster safe practices.

Railroad Workers United (RWU), an interunion group consisting of craft employees, said the Railway Safety Act proposed by a bipartisan group of five senators last week is a good first step by calling for restrictions on train length and weight, train crew staffing minimums, the regulation of wayside detectors and restrictions on the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-workers-say-safety-legislation-doesnt-go-far-enough

Trade groups, unions differ in responses to NTSB report on NS derailment

Responding to the preliminary report and comments from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) about the Feb. 3 derailment of a Norfolk Southern train near East Palestine, Ohio, rail trade groups and unions agreed it’s important not to spread misinformation.

However, there appear to be differences over what the next steps should be, particularly as it pertains to the pace of potential reforms. Statements by the parties illustrate how the discussion surrounding rail safety could shape up...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/trade-groups-unions-differ-in-responses-to-ntsb-report-on-ns-derailment

Class I railroads work to quickly resume operations

A locomotive with the letters BNSF emblazoned on the front travels on track through a forest.

The U.S. operations of the Class I railroads are working to resume operations “immediately” now that a deal has been reached to avoid a strike by union members on Friday.

Two of the largest labor unions — those representing locomotive engineers and train conductors — reached an eleventh-hour tentative agreement with the railroads. The agreement, announced early Thursday, averts a strike that could have begun as early as just after midnight Friday.

“We are moving immediately to resume normal...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/class-i-railroads-work-to-quickly-resume-operations

Unions critical of BNSF’s new adjustments to attendance policy

BNSF locomotives lined up in a rail yard.

Two unions are still critical of BNSF’s controversial attendance policy, saying recent adjustments aren’t enough to overcome its shortcomings.

“BNSF’s proposed changes to its HiViz attendance policy are unimpressive. These changes do nothing to address the policy’s fundamental flaws,” said Greg Regan, president of the Transportation Trades Department, which is affiliated with the AFL-CIO. 

BNSF implemented the “HiViz” policy, which stands for high visibility, on Feb. 1. The railroad has said the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/unions-critical-of-bnsfs-new-adjustments-to-attendance-policy

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