BNSF General Committee

By this time, you have inevitably heard about the AAR’s attempt to deregulate the rail industry, specifically the space surrounding signal inspections. For those not familiar with the AAR, this is a Carrier organization comprised of all the class 1 railroads where they pool their resources to, among other things, lobby government for changes in the regulatory environment.

H.R. 5475 No Tax On Overtime

As most are aware, the no tax on overtime bill was passed into law on July 4, 2025, and it egregiously omitted a sizable portion of the workforce in this country. The bill does not change the amount of overtime pay an eligible employee receives on their regular paycheck.

FSA Open Enrollment

The committee would like to remind all members the annual open enrollment period for United Healthcare is during the month of October. It is at this time when members can make selections regarding various health care options.

Did You Know?

According to FRA statistics for 2024, the top ten states with the most highway grade crossing collisions are: 1. Texas (283) 2. California (185) 3. Florida (125) 4. Georgia (107) 5. Indiana (106) 6. Illinois (104) 7. Louisiana (89) 8. Alabama (87) 9. Ohio (77) 10. Tennessee (70). The most total collisions on record is 9,461 in 1981 and the least is 1,904 in 2020.

BNSF TA Ballot Results

For the first time in our history, the BRS used a third-party electronic balloting platform to conduct our National Agreement ratification balloting. Our hope was that streamlining the process would result in a better voter turnout than what we have historically experienced. Balloting closed on September 27th, and we can now report the results are final.

BNSF 2025 Hiring

In the 2025 first quarter newsletter, we reported that BNSF had downscaled its original hiring plan from around 130 to around 100. However, as the third quarter closes, BNSF has already outpaced that amended plan as it has hired 128 new assistant signalmen. Additionally, there are two more hiring classes tentatively scheduled for the remainder of the year.

BNSF Directional Borimg

As everyone should be aware, after many years of the Carrier scabbing out our boring work on the BNSF, we won back the exclusive right to this work through a late 2023 Board Award. Since that time, we have slowly ramped up to doing nearly all our own boring work, but it has not been without some struggle.

BNSF Sick/PL Day Conversion

As we enter the fourth quarter, it is an appropriate time to remind members of the options which exist for sick and PL days under our 2023 Sick Leave Agreement. Pursuant to that agreement, members now have a choice regarding how they use their personal leave days qualified for under Appendix N.

BNSF Per Diem Enrollment

Meal/Lodging Per Diem Open Enrollment In conjunction with the terms of the 2023 Meal Per Diem Agreement, as well as the 2025 Lodging Per Diem Agreement, the annual enrollment period for eligible employees is November 1 – November 30. All signal crew positions and all MCTs are eligible to participate.

DTO Bargaining Update

As fall approaches, we are now in full swing where bargaining for your next contract is concerned. Each side has made their initial proposal and, as you might imagine, those proposals were very far apart in terms of value to the members. As is customary, the DTO is attempting to get by with paying as little as they must for labor costs.

CPKC Bargaining Update

Update on Bargaining Bargaining continues to be a painstakingly slow process with the CPKC. Our coalition met once again with the Carrier on August 26, 2025, in Kansas City. At that meeting, the Carrier maintained its position that the Unions must “buy” our way up to the national pattern agreement terms through conceding local work rules.

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BRS Efforts to Obtain Emergency Sick Leave

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the lack of sick leave afforded our members, the Organization attempted to get out in front of the impending certainty coming our way – infections and/or exposure quarantines of our members.

Download:

GCA Letter to Carl Ice Re COVID-19 (3-16-2020) (1).pdf

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BRS Efforts to Obtain Emergency Sick Leave

GCA Letter to Carl Ice Re COVID-19 (3-16-2020) (1).pdf

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