BLE: Engineer-only on UP
CLEVELAND -- The BLE's chief spokesman said in mid-March that his union would look to negotiate engineer-only contracts on the Union Pacific Railroad (UP). In essence, the BLE's chief spokesman fired the opening salvo in the "race to the bottom," saying his union will try to put thousands of UTU members out of work on the UP and destroy the crafts of conductor, trainman, and switchman. -- Full story.

NMB calls off TexMex vote
CLEVELAND -- After first indicating on March 9 that a representation election on the Texas Mexican Railway (TexMex) would most probably take place, the National Mediation Board (NMB) on March 24 dismissed the BLE's application for an election against the UTU, which represents all operating employees on the TexMex. -- Full story.

TexMex workers
denounce BLE lies
CLEVELAND -- Thirty-nine union members working on the Texas Mexican Railway (TexMex) have denounced the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) for attaching their names to a "fake" certified letter bashing the UTU. -- Full story.

Wyoming governor vetoes
UTU two-person crew bill
CLEVELAND -- Caving in to pressure from the railroads, and waiting until the state legislature was out of session, Wyoming Gov. Jim Geringer (R) vetoed the UTU two-person crew bill that had passed the state Senate and House. -- Full story.