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The
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET)
is a Division of the Rail Conference of the
International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT). Its
predecessor union, the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers, was the senior national labor
organization in the United States and also North
America's oldest rail labor union. The BLE marked
its 140th anniversary in 2003 and was founded in
Marshall, Mich. on May 8, 1863, as The Brotherhood
of the Footboard; a year later, its name was changed
to The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. The BLE
merged with the International Brotherhood of
Teamsters and became the BLET on January 1, 2004.
MISSION STATEMENT: "The Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers and Trainmen exists to promote and protect
the rights, interests, and safety of its members
through solidarity, aggressive representation, and
education." From BLET National Division Rules, 2004.
MEMBERSHIP: The BLET represents Locomotive
Engineers, Conductors, Brakemen, Firemen, Switchmen,
Hostlers and other Train Service Employees on
numerous railroads in the United States. The BLET's
total membership is more than 59,000 and growing, in
spite of industry consolidation. Since Jan. 1, 1992,
Locomotive Engineers must be trained and tested to
be federally certified and licensed to operate
trains.
AFFILIATIONS: The BLET is the founding member of the
Rail Conference of the International Brotherhood of
Teamsters.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE: Local units of the BLET
are known as Divisions. Each Division elects four
primary local officers - President, Local Chairman,
Secretary-Treasurer and Legislative Representative -
each serving three-year terms. The BLET is comprised
of more than 600 Divisions.
- All the local chairmen on a
particular railroad constitute the BLET General
Committee of Adjustment on that system; this
General Committee is autonomous and responsible
for negotiating, making, interpreting and
enforcing contracts between engineers and their
railroad. Larger railroad systems may have more
than one General Committee and General Chairman.
- All the legislative
representatives for divisions within a state
comprise the State Legislative Board. These
legislative boards are responsible for educating
legislators, policy makers and the public about
the impacts of regulations and laws on
transportation and public safety.
- At the National Division,
officers include the President, First
Vice-President, National Secretary-Treasurer and
eight "regional" vice-presidents, who assist and
offer resources to General Committees. National
Division officers are elected to four-year
terms.
- One vice-president serves as
the BLET's National Legislative Representative,
administering the Washington D.C. office and
coordinating federal activities of the BLET, and
its various state legislative boards.
- The BLET is governed by its
Bylaws. Policies are set and officers elected at
conventions every four years. Convention
delegates are elected by local BLET Division
members.
HEADQUARTER OFFICES: The
BLET National Division is located at:
Standard Building, 1370 Ontario St., Mezzanine,
Cleveland, OH 44113-1702 (built and owned by the
BLET). The National Legislative Office is located in
IBT Headquarters in Washington D.C.
For
more information, contact the BLET Public Relations
Department at the International Office by calling
(216) 241-2630, ext. 248, from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.,
E.T.
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