Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers And Trainmen

THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE RIGHTS, INTERESTS AND SAFETY OF ITS MEMBERSHIP THROUGH EDUCATION, AGGRESSIVE REPRESENTATION AND SOLIDARITY.

POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL ("PTC") IS THE NUMBER ONE SAFETY PRIORITY FOR OUR ORGANIZATION. AFTER YEARS OF REPEATED RECOMMENDATIONS BY NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD ("NTSB") AND SUBSEQUENT TO A MAJOR ACCIDENT INVOLVING A UNION PACIFIC FREIGHT TRAIN AND A PASSENGER TRAIN IN CHATSWORTH, CA THE U.S. CONGRESS PASSED AND PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH SIGNED INTO LAW THE 2008 RAIL SAFETY IMPROVEMENT ACT ("RSIA"). THE RSIA REQUIRED AMONG OTHER RAILROAD SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS, PROGRAMS AND TECHNOLOGIES, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PTC AT CERTAIN LOCATIONS ON THE U.S. RAILROAD SYSTEM PRIOR TO DECEMBER 31, 2015. THE 2015 IMPLEMENTATION DATE WAS EXTENDED BY CONGRESS TO 2018. OUR ORGANIZATION HAS EXPENDED SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES ASSISTING THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION ("FRA") IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PTC REGULATION, ASSISTING THE RAILROADS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PTC IMPLEMENTATION PLANS ("PTCIP") INCLUDING LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER TRAINING AND DEFENDING THE PTC IMPLEMENTATION MANDATE. RECENT EVENTS HAVE CAUSED US TO REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS AND COMMIT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO THIS SAFETY IMPERATIVE.

RESISTANCE TO THE SO CALLED "RIGHT TO WORK" ("RTW") LEGISLATION THAT HAVE BEEN INITIATED IN MANY STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY IS A LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY FOR OUR ORGANIZATION. TRAINING OUR OFFICERS AND MEMBERS ON THE NUANCES AND CONSEQUENCES OF RTW LEGISLATION REQUIRES A SUBSTANTIAL COMMITMENT OF RESOURCES IN BOTH TIME AND FINANCE. EXECUTING THE PUBLIC EDUCATION, POLITICAL LOBBYING AND MOBILIZATION STRATEGIES IS AN ONGOING EXPENSE OUR ORGANIZATION INCURS.

TWO PERSON CREW IS A MAJOR ISSUE TO THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF THE RAIL COMMUNITY. THE WORKING TOGETHER OF THE CERTIFIED ENGINEER AND CONDUCTOR ARE CRUCIAL TO POSITIVE TRAIN OPERATIONS IN THAT THEY DEPEND UPON EACH OTHER FOR PROPER AND SOUND PROCEDURES OF RAIL SYSTEMS.

MANY BATTLES ENSUED IN 2021 INCLUDING INWARD FACING CAMERAS IN LOCOMOTIVE CABS, THE WAR ON WORKERS CONTINUES TO RAGE, AND OUR OPPONENTS ARE FIGHTING TOOTH AND NAIL TO HALT THE EXPANSION OF HIGH SPEED RAIL. THE BLET LEADERSHIP SPENT MUCH OF THE YEAR ALSO FIGHTING FOR SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS,AND THE TWO MAIN THEMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WERE POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL AND TWO PERSON CREWS. IN CONJUNCTION WITH SMART TRANSPORTATION DIVISION (FORMER UTU) AND SEVERAL STATES, WE CHALLENGED THE FRA'S ATTEMPT TO PREEMPT EXISTING STATE LAWS REQUIRING TWO QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS ARE IN THE CAB OF EACH FREIGHT TRAIN.