Mission

The Auxiliary exists to support the interest and welfare of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) Auxiliary and railroad families, especially the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, and the organizations of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Rail Conference, our members and their families throughout the United States.

 Purpose

The overall purpose of the Auxiliary shall be to provide support and promote issues that effect the health, safety, welfare and quality of life of railroaders and their families, to promote higher education with the families of its full members, to give assistance to widows, widowers, sisters and brothers, when needed, especially during times of duress, and to render assistance whenever and wherever needed to further our mission.  

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Strike Aversion and PEB

Information from your VP and National Legislative Rep. Sereena Hogan

 

With the strike currently on hold, Sereena Hogan has provided background information as to how the BLET and other rail labor unions got to this point, along with an explanation as to how the process works.  For more information, click here.

 

For an update and additional information, see also the November Legislative Update.

BLET News

Following introduction of the Competition for Intercity Passenger Rail in America Act introduced by Chairman John Mica (R-FL) and Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA) on June 15, 2011, Vice President Steve Bruno testified at a Senate concerning ways to fund much-needed national infrastructure improvements hearing entitled "Building American Transportation Infrastructure Though Innovative Funding."  To see his testimony, click here.  BLET National President Dennis Pierce also forwarded a letter to House Representatives on June 20, 2011, expressing the BLET's opposition of the Mica/Shuster plan.  To see President Pierce's letter, click here.

Congressional Committee hearings entitled "Federal Regulatory Overreach in the Railroad Industry:  Implementing the Rail Safety Improvement Act" were held, and the BLET had the opportunity to testify twice at these hearings explaining that every regulation that has passed has been done with not only sound reasoning, but in a collaborative process.  The testimony requests that Congress proceed cautiously before removing any of the regulations without examining the underlying reason for them.  To see the entire testimony by National President Dennis Pierce given on March 17, 2011, please follow the link.  To see testimony by National Vice President Steve Bruno given on April 7, 2011, please follow the link.  Both bring important issues that have arisen under the Rail Safety Improvement Act to the forefront.

For more BLET News, log on to www.ble-t.org.

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From Your National Auxiliary President

 

Follow this link to see an update from your National Auxiliary President, Anita J. Caruso.  Click here.

 

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What Members Have to Say - New to the Website

The Auxiliary is always looking for member input.  We are creating a new section "What You Have to Say" that highlights what is important to us all.  If you have input, we would love to post articles to this new Section.  While we don't have a blog, this is a way for us to communicate with each other as to what's on our minds.  See below to links to various articles that may or may not have been published.  If you have a submission, please forward it to Anita Caruso at bunziegia@cox.net and we will do our best to get information posted in a timely fashion.

Fundraising and Fun

Cookbooks - The new Cookbook have arrived, along with a reprinting of the old one for those who missed out on the first one.  Click here for details about the original and new Mainline Cooking.

Unique and Pretty Pillow Cases - Auxiliary 235, Osawatomie, Kansas has handcrafted pillow cases to raise money for the Auxiliary Scholarship fund.  Click here to take a look at these whimsical, yet functional pillow cases.

General Auxiliary Information