BLET leadership has sunk to an all-time low in its anti-UTU propaganda campaign. A recent post on the official BLET web site alleges that UTU has conspired with the nations carriers to kill remote control operators and that the operation of remote control locomotives by UTU represented crafts promotes the threat of terrorism in this country. BLET propagandists state that because of UTU’s actions “their own members are being maimed and killed by remote control operations” as if this alleged threat to life and limb can be eliminated by simply changing one’s union affiliation. These completely ridiculous and inflammatory statements reveal the depth of BLET’s desperation and their lack of respect or appreciation for all railroad operating crafts.

BLET has become so blinded by the frustration of their own dismal failure on the remote control issue that they can’t even put forth a cohesive argument, and their rancid propaganda has reached the point of self-contradiction and sheer absurdity. For example, in the web page posting referred to above, BLET first asserts that UTU leadership partnered with the Carriers to “block the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen’s (BLET) efforts to improve the safety and security of remote control train operations.” In almost the same breath, the writer of that article repeatedly states that BLET introduced their proposed amendment knowing full well that it was already dead in the water and would be withdrawn, and that “withdrawing the amendment had nothing to do with the efforts of the UTU.” If BLET is really concerned about the safety of RC operations, they should stop wasting time, money and energy on what they admit is meaningless political saber-rattling, and focus instead on a constructive partnership with UTU that will assure fair and equal representation for all rail operating crafts in this and the many other challenges that we face.

As for the alleged “maiming and killing” of UTU members in remote control operations, BLET’s rage over losing the RC battle has apparently overcome their capacity for rational thinking. It is an irrefutable fact that many railroad employees are maimed and killed each year with an Engineer at the throttle. It is also a known fact that remote control operations in Canada have reduced injury and accident ratios there, and that same trend is already taking shape in U. S. remote control operations. But instead of pointing to any verifiable data or any credible studies, BLET fabricates horror stories and calls for a complete cessation of RC operations. In stark contrast, you don’t hear the UTU calling for an all-out ban on Engineer operations, or accusing the BLET of homicidal negligence based on some wild theory that they are automatically responsible every time an accident or injury occurs with an Engineer operating the involved locomotive.

BLET’s real goal is evident to anyone who has even a basic understanding of the history of this dispute. BLET failed to get remote control work for Engineers through the collective bargaining process, and is now reduced to an increasingly desperate and illogical propaganda campaign to somehow take that work away from UTU represented employees. As time goes on, the safety of remote control operations becomes more evident and the absurdity of BLET’s rhetoric becomes increasingly clear.