Fall/Winter 2004
Volume 111 - No. 3& 4

BLET News Clips

"We must do everything in our power to retain the union jobs that so many have worked so hard to achieve. With good union jobs either disappearing or going oversees at an alarming rate, we must fight to keep the good railroad jobs we have. Many of the locomotive engineers and trainmen in West Virginia are fourth and fifth generation railroads. It is their professionalism and skill that makes the trains run safe in the mountainous terrain." - BLET National President Don M. Hahs, on CSX Transportation's plans to lease more than 500 miles of tracks in West Virginia to shortlines. Charleston Gazette, August 27, 2004. Circulation: 87,151.

"It reinforces what we've been saying all along about the unsafe environment in which the technology is being implemented." - BLET spokesman John Bentley Jr., on the Pine Bluff, Ark. remote control accident in July. Arkansas Democrat Gazette, July 29, 2004. Circulation: 188,957.

"I think it is an idiot who doesn't know any better and has nothing else to do. They will be caught. They usually are." - BLET Shortline Director John Mullen, on the alleged sabotage of railroad switches in Iowa. The Associated Press, October 27, 2004. Circulation: millions.

"You leave UTU members without hope of being represented by the strongest transportation organization in North America, unless they join the BLET. Your members know that UTU's failure to join together with other rail unions has seriously undermined the collective strength of all rail labor at the bargaining table. The reality is that everyone knows rail labor is in crisis and unity and solidarity are the only way forward." - President Hahs, on UTU President Paul Thompson's refusal to consider working with rail labor. Southern California Teamster, September 2004. Circulation: 140,000.

"The UTU allegations are false. The BLET is the most senior labor union in the United States and has never stood in the way of new technology." - BLET spokesman Bentley, on UTU allegations that the BLET is opposed to new technology. Roanoke Times, September 19, 2004. Circulation: 98,553.

"This merger will unite two proud unions with long histories in the transportation industry working to protect and increase the power of transportation labor." - BMWE President Freddie Simpson, on the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employee's merger with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The Associated Press, September 1, 2004. Circulation: millions.

"BMWE members will gain greater bargaining strength, greater political strength and greater economic strength." - IBT General President James P. Hoffa, on the BMWE's merger with the IBT. The Associated Press, September 1, 2004. Circulation: millions.

"Everything with the carriers is cost control - doing more with less. People are not equipment." - President Hahs, commenting on the portion of the carriers' Section 6 notices seeking to reduce the size of operating crews. Bureau of National Affairs Daily Labor Report, November 26, 2004.

"I cannot see how it would be possible for the Teamsters and the UTU to be affiliates of the same labor federation. UTU leadership is conducting itself in a manner wholly inconsistent with the principles of the AFL-CIO Constitution." - Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa in a two-page letter to AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, discouraging the UTU's re-affiliation with the Labor Federation. Bureau of National Affairs Daily Labor Report, December 2, 2004.

"(Railroads) have blindly jumped into this thing, thinking it will cure all their ills... With all the new technology, CEOs will not be happy until they can go to work and push a green button and have their life-size Lionel train set move automatically." - BLET California State Legislative Board Chairman Tim Smith on the implementation of remote control locomotive technology in the railroad industry. Los Angeles Times, November 22, 2004. Circulation: 903,000. ·

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