BMWED Training and Education Library

Gathered here are resources, information, or links to further tools to help our members learn more about their union, how we function, our mission and values, the benefits and rights our members and families enjoy, or how to sharpen their skills as union members and leaders.

If you find any broken links, bad files, or see additions or changes that need to be made to this material, please reach out to Ash Anderson, BMWED Director of Education, at education@bmwe.org. If you are looking to take training offered by the BMWED Education Department, take a look at our Training page.

NOTE: Links below marked with an asterisk * are EXTERNAL LINKS. We link to external organizations and third-party websites as part of offering educational tools and resources for our members. BMWED does not warrant, endorse, guarantee, or assume responsibility for the accuracy or reliability of any information offered by third-party websites linked through this Training and Education Library, or any website or feature linked in any banner or other advertising.

NEW! Lodge Officer Guides

BMWED Lodge Training Guides at https://www.bmwe.org/LodgeOfficers

As union members and rail workers, we learn by doing, but any tool to help us get started is welcome! This series of task-focused Guides provide our Lodge officers and members with great tools to get started on learning how to make our Lodges the center of ACTION within our union! Whether you want to plan an action, manage your Lodge's finances, put together an agenda, or more, we have a Guide for that! Check them all out at https://www.bmwe.org/LodgeOfficers.

BMWED YouTube Channel

Training videos, news, information, and more!

Recording of Zoom Webinar, "Being a Lodge Secretary," held for the Unified System Division August 15, 2023 (1:03:48 video)

Recording of Zoom Webinar, "Understanding the Railway Labor Act," held on May 22, 2024 (1:41:58 video)

On Our Way - Shortlines: "Feb. 7" Protections

Bargaining Information and Resources

Key Terms & Concepts in BMWED Bargaining (bmwe.org/bargainingterms) 

UNIONS "101" - New Member Resources

Why Do We Need Railroad Unions? (5:45 video)

General Labor History Resources

Welcome to the BMWED-IBT! Guide

Unions "101" webinar Presentation (.pdf of .pptx)

UNION VALUES & ACTION

BMWED ACTS! : A Guide to Planning, Conducting, and Coordinating Effective Actions for BMWED Members and Campaigns

Appendices to BMWED ACTS! Guide

BMWED Action Checklist

BMWED Action Sign-in Sheet

BMWED Action Equipment Set

BMWED ACTS! - Identify and Orient Worksheet

Example Timeline for an Action - Rally

Example Media Advisory

US Department of Labor Worker Organizing Resource & Knowledge Center *

Helpful Books and Materials from Labor Notes*

Teamster History*

THE RAILWAY LABOR ACT

The Railway Labor Act (Actual text from the National Mediation Board website)*

Railway Labor Act Overview*

On Our Way - Shortlines: Railway Labor Act (3:33 video)

Understanding the Railway Labor Act presentation (.pdf of .pptx)

Key Concepts of Understanding the RLA (Trifold Pamphlet)

Flowchart - The RLA Bargaining Process

Recording of Zoom Webinar, "Understanding the Railway Labor Act," held on May 22, 2024 (1:41:58 video)

THE FEDERAL EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY ACT (FELA)

BMWED Officer's Guide to Assisting Members Navigating At-Work Injuries

Understanding the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) (Trifold Pamphlet)

Understanding FELA webinar recording (1:03:21 video)

UNION BUSINESS & ADMINISTRATION

Governance Documents of the BMWED

Functions and Structure of the BMWED

BMWED Lodge Elections Guide

Department of Labor: Conducting Local Union Officer Elections *

BMWED Secretary-Treasurer Instructional Video collection

"Being a Lodge Secretary" Webinar Recording (from Aug. 15, 2023)

Guidance from Jim Slaughter, Parliamentarian, on Effective Meeting Minutes

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE GUIDANCE

"Robert's Rules and Effective Chairperson Work" Webinar Recording (from March 11, 2024 - 1:23:44)

BMWED Ritual and Parliamentary Motions Guide

Website for Jim Slaughter, Parliamentarian (Resources for understanding and using parliamentary procedure to run Lodge meetings)*
Guidance from  Jim Slaughter, Parliamentarian, on Effectively Handling Parliamentary Motions

Quick Reference on Phrases for a Presiding Officer Using Parliamentary Procedure

BMWED website on Parliamentary Procedure

LEADER DEVELOPMENT

BMWED Governing Documents (BMWED Bylaws, BMWE/IBT Merger Agreement, etc.)

IBT Constitution*

How to Conduct an Effective BMWED Union Meeting

The Elements of Style, by William Strunk—A Project Gutenberg eBook (Tips for More Effective Writing)*

The Small Book of Railroad Employee Protections by Don Griffin, BMWED

Interacting with Members as a BMWED Officer

Combating Misinformation on Membership Dues & GWIs

Robert's Rules of Order Online Resources (robertsrules.com)*

RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD (RETIREMENT, SURVIVOR, DISABILITY, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND SICKNESS BENEFITS)

YOUR BEST SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE ON REGARDING RRB MATTERS IS THE RRB ITSELF!

> FIND YOUR RRB FIELD OFFICE AT https://rrb.gov/Field-Office-Locator*

> SET UP AN ACCOUNT WITH RRB TO FILE CLAIMS, VIEW YOUR STATUSES, AND GET BENEFITS ESTIMATES AT myRRB*

> YOU CAN ALSO CONTACT THE RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD AT (877) 772-5772 OR VISIT THEM AT rrb.gov!*

US Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) website*

RRB Field Office Locator*

2024 RRB Informational Handbook*

Information on RRB Pre-Retirement Seminars*

Educational Materials from the RRB Office of the Labor Member*

Q&As on RRB topics from the Office of the Labor Member*

Railroad Retirement Board Benefits Information*

"At a Glance" Understanding the Development of our Railroad Retirement System

"At a Glance" Why are our Railroad Retirement Withholdings in Two "Tiers?"

WHISTLEBLOWER RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS

BMWED Safety Department's Whistleblower Page

OSHA: Your Rights as a Whistleblower

OSHA: Whistleblower Protection for Railroad Workers

BMWED Officer's Guide to Whistleblower Protections for BMWED Members

"Whistleblowers.gov" US Department of Labor/OSHA Whistleblower Protection Program*

MEMBER & FAMILY RESOURCES

BMWED Membership Benefits Page

Your Track to Health - National Agreement Scheduled Benefits*

On Our Way - Shortlines: Designated Legal Counsel (2:39 video)

"At a Glance" The Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) & BMWED Designated Legal Counsel (DLC)

Union First Employee Assistance Program Informational Flyer*

Union First - Job Protection and Behavioral Health Services for Union Members*

BMWED Resources and Information on the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Your Rights & Responsibilities Regarding "Feb. 7" Protections (Trifold Pamphlet)

On Our Way - Shortlines: "Feb. 7" Protections

REPRESENTATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL) - Writing Skills*

Cambridge University's Write and Improve online program - Writing Skills*

COMPUTER SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

Microsoft Office Cheat Sheets* - Official cheat sheets (.pdf) from Microsoft to learn tips and techniques for Word, Excel, and more!

YouTube Instructional Videos by GCFLearnFree - Microsoft Word* - Videos with tips for MS Word and Office

YouTube Instructional Videos by GCFLearnFree - Microsoft Excel* - Videos with tips for MS Excel and Office

YouTube Instructional Videos by GCFLearnFree - Microsoft PowerPoint* - Videos with tips for MS PowerPoint

Thanks go to our BMWED IT Department for helping find these tools for our members! You can also find other free learning videos on a variety of topics from GCFLearnFree at https://www.youtube.com/@GCFLearnFree*

CRAFT SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

Teamsters Training & Development*

Teamsters Safety and Health Fact Sheet Archive*

Teamsters Safety and Health eLearning Portal*

Railworkers Hazardous Materials Training Program*

FMCSA CDL Training Provider Registry*

FMCSA Safety and Licensing/Registration Resources for Drivers*

OSHA Video Library (several topics available)*

Labor News & Resources *

(TTD) Transporation Trades Department, AFL-CIO *
Teamster Newsroom *
New York Times: Labor *
LaborPress.org *
Politico: Labor Unions *
Northwest Labor Press *
The Guardian: U.S. Unions *
onlabor *
More Perfect Union *
The Nation: Labor *

Additional Labor Films, Books, Documentaries