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BRIGHTLINE WEST GROUNDBREAKING:
“Full speed ahead” with Rail Labor on board
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Brightline West executives and government leaders hammer ceremonial first spikes at the April 22 groundbreaking ceremony in Las Vegas.
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On April 22, Brightline West officially broke ground on its Las Vegas to Southern California high-speed rail system. The 218-mile route will be constructed within the median of the I-15 highway with zero grade crossings, and is based on Brightline’s business model of connecting city pairs that are too short to fly and too far to drive.
The BLET and 12 other Rail Labor unions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Brightline West’s management in February 2023 that protects the use of union labor after the trains start running. The MOU establishes Brightline West as a "carrier" under the Railway Labor Act and gives Rail Labor rights to seek representation elections for all crafts for the purpose of collective bargaining. The projected start date is summer of 2028, which coincides with the launch of the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The project was recently awarded $3 billion in funding from President Biden’s bipartisan Infrastructure bill. Brightline West’s trains will reach speeds of 200 mph and turn a four-hour car ride into a two-hour high-speed train trip. The system will have stops in Las Vegas, Nevada, as well as Victor Valley, Hesperia, and Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. BLET National President Eddie Hall, who joined Brightline West executives, government leaders and representatives of other unions at the April 22 groundbreaking, said: “This is an important next chapter for travel by rail on this continent that offers new job opportunities for our members. Full speed ahead.”
See a photo gallery of the Brightline West groundbreaking.
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BLET National President Eddie Hall (left) speaks with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg at the Brightline West ceremony.
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GCA NEWS:
Chris Hyde reelected CSXT Eastern Lines General Chairman
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General Chairman Chris R. Hyde was reelected at the quadrennial meeting of the CSXT Eastern Lines General Committee of Adjustment, which was held via Zoom on April 21, 2024. Brother Hyde began serving as General Chairman on January 1, 2023, following the election of Gary D. Best to the office of National Vice President.
The CSXT-Eastern Lines General Committee of Adjustment represents more than 1,700 active and retired members from 18 different BLET Divisions.
Also elected were: Vice General Chairman Jamie L. Truesdale, Division 598 (Greenville, S.C.); First Vice Chairman Troy L. Bryant, Division 532 (Richmond, Va.); Second Vice Chairman Roger D. Bickerstaff, Division 684 (Birmingham, Ala.); Third Vice Chairman David P. Wyatt, Division 216 (Tampa, Fla.); Fourth Vice Chairman S.A. (Anthony) Sirmans, Division 648 (Waycross, Ga.); Secretary-Treasurer Robbie W. Clark, Division 779 (Manchester, Ga.); and Alternate Secretary-Treasurer Jon H. Hull, Division 332 (Montgomery, Ala.). Brothers Truesdale, Bryant and Wyatt were appointed to serve as Trustees.
Brother Hyde is a second-generation locomotive engineer who hired out with CSX in 1994. He earned promotion to locomotive engineer in 1995 and joined BLET Division 314 (Rocky Mount, N.C.) in 1996. He was Local Chairman of Division 314 for 20 years (2003-2023). Only five men have served as General Chairman of the CSXT Eastern Lines GCA since it was founded in 1967: M. L. Geiger, 1967-1985; Paul T. Sorrow, 1985-1991; Tony Smith, 1991-2013; Gary D. Best, 2013-2022; and Chris R. Hyde, 2023-present.
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GCA NEWS:
Hau reelected to second term as CN-WC General Chairman
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Officers, members, and guests at the CN-WC GCA's quadrennial meeting in Appleton, Wisc.
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Brother Eric A. Hau was reelected General Chairman at the Canadian National-Wisconsin Central General Committee of Adjustment’s quadrennial meeting on April 16 in Appleton, Wisc. He was first elected General Chairman of the CN-WC GCA at its quadrennial meeting in 2020.
The CN-WC GCA represents approximately 900 active and retired members from nine different BLET Divisions.
Also elected were: Vice General Chairman David J. Robinette, Division 185 (Gladstone, Mich.); and Secretary-Treasurer: Eugene (Shy) J. Ziegler, Division 173 (Fon du Lac, Wisc.). Elected to serve as alternate officers were: 1st Alternate Vice General Chairman Ian W. Wainio, Division 173 (Fon du Lac, Wisc.); 2nd Alternate Vice General Chairman Adam S. Fenlaciki, Division 209 (Green Bay, Wisc.); and Alternate Secretary-Treasurer Eric A. Stroik, Division 174 (Stevens Point, Wisc.). Brother Robinette and Brother Fenlaciki were appointed to serve as Trustees, along with Jason T. Alexander, Division 184 (Schiller Park, Ill.).
Brother Hau is a member of BLET Division 173 in Fon du Lac, Wisc. Prior to his election as General Chairman, he served as Local Chairman of Division 173 from 2003-2020.
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From left: CN-WC General Chairman Eric Hau; Twin Ports Auxiliary 6388 (Proctor, Minn.) President Rose Surchik; BLET National President Eddie Hall; and Badger State Auxiliary 209 (Green Bay, Wisc.) President Kayla Fenlaciki.
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NORTH DAKOTA:
Forschen reelected State Legislative Board Chairman
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From left: Darin Hamre, Vince Verna, Sean Forschen, Dave Harness, and Tim Presler.
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Brother Sean M. Forschen was elected to his second term as Chairman of the BLET’s North Dakota State Legislative Board during its quadrennial meeting in Bismarck, N.D., April 9-10, 2024. Brother Forschen is a BNSF locomotive engineer and Legislative Representative of BLET Division 746 (Mandan, N.D.). He was elected to his first term as Chairman in 2020.
Also elected were: First Vice Chairman David L. Harness, Division 160 (Harvey, N.D.); Secretary-Treasurer Darin L. Hamre, Division 671 (Enderlin, N.D.); Trustee Timothy A. Presler, Division 69 (Grand Forks, N.D.); and Trustee Samuel P. Richter, Division 695 (Minot, S.D.). Brother Harness was also elected to serve as a Trustee.
Brother Forschen joined the BLET on May 1, 2013. He is a second generation locomotive engineer, following in the footsteps of his father Mike, a retired member of BLET Division 160 who worked for the CP Rail from 1978-2011.
The North Dakota State Legislative Board represents about 500 active and retired members from five different BLET Divisions in North Dakota.
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Chairman Sean Forschen (left) presents former North Dakota State Chairman Charles Weick with a retirement gift.
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WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY 2024:
BLET mourns those who were lost as we continue to advocate for rail safety
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Every year on April 28, organized labor remembers those workers who were killed or suffered injury or illness on the job. The AFL-CIO reports that, on average, more than 340 workers are killed each day due to dangerous working conditions.
 Sadly, BLET Division 423 member Chris M. Wilson, 55, was killed in a Norfolk Southern rail yard accident in Decatur, Alabama, on January 31, 2024. He had over 28 years of railroad seniority. Tragedies such as this are why the BLET constantly advocates for the safety of its members. Whether through contract negotiations, lobbying for legislation, or advocating for federal regulations, the BLET will not give up the fight. The Federal Railroad Administration’s recent two-person crew regulation and the C3RS pilot program at Norfolk Southern are crucial steps in the right direction, but much work remains. Workers Memorial Day is an opportunity to mourn for those who we have lost, and to remind ourselves and the public of the work that lies ahead. As famous labor champion Mother Jones said: “Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living.”
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ARIZONA:
Division 28 hosts National Division officers for Division meeting, Old Timers Picnic
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It was a week for union conversations and also camaraderie for members and officers of BLET Division 28 in Tucson, Arizona. On April 18, the Division hosted National President Eddie A. Hall, First Vice President Mark L. Wallace, National Vice President Gary D. Best, and Union Pacific-Western Lines General Chairman Brian P. Carr for a regularly-scheduled Division meeting. Members in attendance engaged in a lengthy discussion with the National Division officers regarding a number of important topics, including C3RS, the new two-person crew regulation, ongoing quality of life issues, and the upcoming round of national contract negotiations.
On April 20, Division 28 hosted its annual Old Timers Picnic, a well-attended event for active and retired BLET members and their families. Division 28 is one of the largest Divisions in the BLET, representing more than 430 active and retired members.
See some photo highlights of the meeting and picnic.
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DON'T MISS OUT! DEADLINE IS MAY 3:
Only one week left to make your hotel reservations for BLET’s Kansas City regional meeting
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There’s only one week left to make your hotel reservations for the BLET’s Western Regional Meeting, which will be held the week of June 3 in Kansas City, Missouri. Room reservations must be made by Friday, May 3, 2024.
The meeting will be held at the Marriott Kansas City Downtown (200 West 12th St., Kansas City, MO, 65105, telephone: (816) 421-6800). Meeting registration and hotel reservations can be made through BLET’s regional meeting website, bletregionals.org. Room rates are $199 per night (plus tax).
Open and members-only closed meetings will take place on June 4. Valuable training workshops will be held on June 6, including a session on the upcoming BLET triennial elections, which will take place later this year. When meetings are not in sessions, members are free to explore the City’s Power and Light District. The dynamic entertainment district is within walking distance of the Marriott Kansas City Downtown. The annual golf outing will take place on June 5 at the Tiffany Greens Golf Club, just a short drive from the hotel.
Click here for more information about the Kansas City regional meeting. In addition, members are invited to Washington, D.C., for the Eastern Regional Meeting the week of July 29, 2024.
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