Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen

Federal court rules unions can’t strike over BNSF attendance policy

A federal judge has ruled that two major rail unions can’t go on strike against BNSF over their objections to the railroad’s new “Hi Viz” attendance policy. 

Judge Mark T. Pittman of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Fort Worth said the dispute between BNSF (NYSE: BRK.B) and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers – Transportation Division (SMART-TD) is a minor...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/federal-court-rules-unions-cant-strike-over-bnsf-attendance-policy

Rail unions take attendance policy grievances to Buttigieg, Walsh

Two major rail unions are taking their concerns about attendance programs at BNSF and other Class I railroads to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Labor Secretary Martin Walsh, saying that employees are pressured to take on work even though they’re fatigued. 

The letter to the two officials came a day before BNSF’s new “Hi-Viz” attendance program took effect on Tuesday. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the Transportation Division of the International...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-unions-take-attendance-policy-grievances-to-buttigieg-walsh

Unions press on in fight against BNSF attendance program

While two rail unions plan to abide by a temporary restraining order banning BNSF employees from striking over a new attendance program, they are not abandoning legal action.

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation (SMART-TD) will continue to use every legal means available to prevent the implementation of the proposed policy, the two groups said in a Friday release....

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/unions-press-on-in-fight-against-bnsf-attendance-program

Federal judge sides with BNSF, orders unions not to strike

A federal judge in Texas has ruled that union-affiliated employees at BNSF can’t go on strike over objections to BNSF’s new attendance program that goes into effect next Tuesday.

Members of the  Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation (SMART-TD) said on Jan. 13 that they were considering going on strike at BNSF over an attendance program that they called overly...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/federal-judge-sides-with-bnsf-orders-unions-not-to-strike

Labor, railroads tussle over contract negotiation ‘dead end,’ seek mediation

Ten rail unions have declared an impasse with U.S. freight railroads over bargaining for a new labor agreement and have asked the National Mediation Board (NMB) for a federal mediator to assist with negotiations — a move the railroads support.

The Coordinated Bargaining Coalition (CBC), which consists of the unions, said discussions stalled after more than two years of bargaining. Because of the stalemate, the coalition is seeking a mediator, per the Railway Labor Act.

The unions said the National...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/labor-railroads-tussle-over-contract-negotiation-dead-end-seek-mediation

BNSF asks for court intervention in tussle over attendance program

A photograph of a BNSF locomotive.

BNSF is asking a federal court to classify the railroad’s tussle with two rail unions over a new company attendance policy as a “minor dispute,” which would prevent the unions from striking.

By declaring the dispute as a minor dispute under the Railway Labor Act, the two unions — the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART-TD) — would be required to...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/bnsf-asks-for-court-intervention-in-tussle-over-attendance-program

Union members threaten to strike over BNSF’s new attendance policy

A photograph of two BNSF locomotives parked in a rail yard.

Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation (SMART-TD) are considering going on strike at BNSF over an attendance program that they say is overly restrictive and hints of precision scheduled railroading practices.

According to a Thursday release from the two unions, BNSF’s “Hi-Viz” attendance program, which would go into effect on Feb. 1, “repudiates numerous...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/union-members-threaten-to-strike-over-bnsfs-new-attendance-policy

Rail unions ‘disappointed’ by vaccine mandate ruling but will press on

Efforts to prevent a COVID-19 vaccine mandate from being implemented on Chicago’s commuter rail system were thwarted last week when a federal judge ruled against two rail unions’ requests to stop it.

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, ruled against the preliminary injunction filed by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-unions-disappointed-by-vaccine-mandate-ruling-but-will-press-on

Los sindicatos ferroviarios están “decepcionados” por el fallo sobre el mandato de las vacunas, pero seguirán adelante

Los esfuerzos para evitar que se aplique la vacuna COVID-19 en el sistema de trenes de cercanías de Chicago se vieron frustrados la semana pasada cuando un juez federal falló en contra de las peticiones de dos sindicatos ferroviarios para detenerla.

El Tribunal de Distrito de EE.UU. para el Distrito Norte de Illinois, División Este, falló en contra de la orden judicial preliminar presentada por la Hermandad de Maquinistas de Locomotoras y Trenes (BLET) y la División de Transporte de la...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/los-sindicatos-ferroviarios-estan-decepcionados-por-el-fallo-sobre-el-mandato-de-las-vacunas-pero-seguiran-adelante

Michigan lawmakers introduce train crew size legislation

A photograph of a Union Pacific locomotive and a tank car rolling by a railroad crossing.

Two Democratic state lawmakers in Michigan have introduced legislation that would require freight trains to have at least two individuals operating them.

State Rep. Tim Sneller introduced H.B.5596 and Sen. Erika Gross introduced S.B. 767 on Dec. 2. Both bills have been referred to their respective transportation committees.

Both bills call for a railroad to operate a freight train or locomotive engine with no fewer than two crew members.

Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/michigan-lawmakers-introduce-train-crew-size-legislation

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