Vice President Holdcraft served on the BLETs National Wage Committee during the round of contract talks that concluded in 2017, which resulted in more than 88 percent of the voting BLET members ratifying the agreement. As a BLET Member, you have access to a wide variety of valuable benefits, including consumer discounts, insurance programs, scholarships, training programs and more. Milwaukee, Wisc. In 2003, he was appointed to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters / Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Merger Committee on Bylaws, and also a position on the Rail Safety Advisory Committees (RSAC) Risk Reduction and Fatigue Management Working Groups, representing the BLET and all of Rail Labor. In 2006, he served on the Eastern Steering Committee at the BLETs First National Convention in Las Vegas. He earned promotion to locomotive engineer on May 31, 1994, in his hometown of Abbeville, S.C. During the course of his career, Brother Best has participated in various positions with the BLET and in every facet of membership representation at each level. Travel to the meeting, registration and a welcome reception for each of the two meetings will be on Monday (June 13 for Denver and August 1 for Baltimore). Education & Training A Norfolk Southern locomotive engineer, Vice President Fannon is a member of BLET Division 37 (Norton, Va.), and has held continuous membership in the BLET since March 1, 1989. All Rights Reserved. The convention was kicked off by the Report of the National President, delivered by BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce during the morning session of the BLET's Fifth National Convention on October 10. (Source: Railway Age, February 15, 2023) The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Feb. 14 denied as moot the petition for an emergency service order by Foster Poultry Farms (Foster Farms), which in late 2022 said there had been a substantial, measurable February 23, 2023 | Derailment, East Palestine-NS, News, NS, NTSB, Top News, February 21, 2023 | 2-man Crews, Derailment, DOT, East Palestine-NS, News, NS, Remote Control, Top News, February 14, 2023 | Contract Negotiations, CSX, News, Short Line, Top News, February 13, 2023 | News, Railroad Retirement, Top News, February 10, 2023 | Contract Agreement, News, Short Line, Top News, February 9, 2023 | News, Paid Sick Leave, Top News, February 9, 2023 | CP, News, Tentative Contract, Top News, February 8, 2023 | Contract Negotiations, CP-KCS Merger, News, Top News, Derailment, East Palestine-NS, Headlines, NS, Derailment, East Palestine-NS, EPA, Headlines, NS, Commuter Rail, Contract Negotiations, Headlines. Critical Illness & Accident Insurance Accidental Death & Dismemberment In compliance with the ND Bylaws, the Fifth National Convention of the BLET will convene in Las Vegas, Nevada from October 10-13, 2022. 7061 East Pleasant Valley Road Immediately prior to his election as National President, Brother Hall served as First Vice Local Chairman of Division 28. He was elected by acclamation to the office of National Division Trustee at the BLETs Third National Convention in Las Vegas on October 1, 2014. BNSF was hiring after my time in the Army ended. Per the BLET Bylaws, Brother Verna was elevated to office having been elected by acclamation to the office of First Alternate VP&NLR at the BLETs Fourth National Convention in Las Vegas on October 4, 2018. Near the end of Day 3 of the BLET's Fifth National Convention, delegates completed consideration and debate regarding the Bylaws Committee report. Registration information will be available online at the BLET National Divisions regional meeting website (http://bletregionals.org). He continued in both positions until becoming Division 28s Legislative Representative in 2006 and full-time Local Chairman in 2008. He has twice been elected as his GCAs delegate to the IBT International conventions in 2011 and 2016. Brother Gibbons also served the Brotherhood as a delegate to the 2001 BLE International Convention in Miami Beach, and served on the Arrangements Committee during the 2006 First National Convention in Las Vegas and the 2010 Second National Convention in Reno, Nevada. He was elected by acclamation to serve as the BLETs top financial officer at the unions Fifth National Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 12, 2022. He was elevated to the office of General Chairman in December of 2012 and was reelected General Chairman at the GCAs quadrennial meetings in 2014, 2018 and 2022. A CSX locomotive engineer, Vice President Best is a member of BLET Division 498 in Abbeville, S.C., and has held continuous membership in the BLET since January 1, 1995. 7061 East Pleasant Valley Road He was elected to his first full term of office as General Chairman in May of 2013 and was reelected by acclamation in 2017 and 2021. By contrast, the UTU obtained a provision for binding arbitration, by which the UTU can achieve an increase in entry-level for conductors tied to training. Per the BLET Bylaws, regional meetings are held for the purposes of membership training, education and discussion of matters of importance to the membership. Additionally, the meetings are structured to include options for fellowship with other members and their families. Brother Driscoll currently serves as General Chairman of the Conrail SSA/CSXT-Northern District General Committee of Adjustment (GCA), which represents about 1,400 active and retired members. I do what I do because I enjoy the travel, and the most rewarding part of this job is being able to call our members when their claim has been approved. Supply, Retirement As we move forward, I am asking you to stay involved in your Union. Memorial Page He is currently an active member of BLET Division 267 (Asheville, N.C.), having joined the Brotherhood on February 1, 1997. Brother Crow began his railroad career in 1996, when he hired out as a trainman with the Union Pacific in Chicago, earning promotion to locomotive engineer in June of 1999. He earned promotion to locomotive engineer in 1997 and joined BLET Division 60 on October 1, 1997. Vice President Fannon began his railroad career on July 5, 1988 in Norton, Va. (Norfolk Southern) as a brakeman. Updates and related information will be available on the BLET's National . The BLET's Fifth National Convention will convene at the Bally's Las Vegas Hotel and Casino from Monday, October 10 . He also recently led negotiations for another on-property agreement with Bombardier Transportation Services for his members working in MARC commuter rail service. Brother Lyons is assigned to the National Wage Committee for the current round of national contract negotiations, and served in the same role during the round of negotiations that concluded in 2017, with an agreement that was ratified by 88% of voting members. in the Members Area of the BLET National Division website, https://members.ble-t.org. Brother Driscoll has also served as Secretary-Treasurer of the BLETs former Eastern Meeting Union Association (EUMA) and currently serves a trustee of the National General Chairman Association. Brother Verna also began serving as Chairman of the Arizona State Legislative Board in 2008, a position he was reelected to in 2009. The convention will begin on Monday, October 10 and will be held at He began serving the GCA in 2012 when he was elected to the office of 1st Vice General Chairman. BLET's change from delegate elections in convention to rank and file elections of National Division Officers was . I truly enjoy working for LECMPA, as it allows me to help fellow transportation workers protect their income against heavy-handed discipline handed down by big corporations. Crow, both hired out on the Union Pacific on the same day in 1996. It was the union's first nationwide . His report focused on the Tentative National Freight Agreement and a call for unity now and in the days to come. He was most recently reelected by acclamation to his third term of office at the BLETs Fifth National Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 12, 2022, having won reelection by acclamation to his second term at the BLETs Fourth National Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 3, 2018. He follows in the footsteps of his father, Ray C. Wallace, who was a locomotive engineer, Local Chairman, and General Chairman of the NS Southern Lines from 1986-2008. The only opposing candidate on the ballot in the BLET is Edward A. 2022 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, Retiring Vice Presidents Pruitt, Priester address delegates as Fifth National Convention adjourns, FRA Administrator Bose talks safety on Day 3 of BLETs Fifth National Convention, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh highlights Day 2 of BLETs Fifth National Convention, President Pierce addresses delegates at Fifth National Convention. If you would like to become of a member of the BLET, please complete a BLET membership application form, which is available as a PDF. Brother Bagby is a second-generation railroader and is proud of his strong union heritage. The convention will begin on Monday, October 10 and will be held at Bally's Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, 3645 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, Nevada 89109. From 2013-2022, Brother Lyons served the Brotherhood as General Chairman of the CSXT-Northern Lines General Committee of Adjustment (GCA), which represents nearly 3,000 active and retired members. 2 "The heart that gives thanks is a happy one, for we cannot feel thankful and unhappy at the same time." . LAS VEGAS, October 19 Delegates on October 13 heard farewell addresses from retiring National Division officers Lee Pruitt and Mike Priester as the Fifth National Convention of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) came to a close. BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce announced earlier in the week that Marvin Lee, Local Chairman of Division 75 in Kansas City, Mo., unexpectedly passed away in his sleep on the morning of October 9. In addition, he has attended each of the LM-2 Secretary-Treasurer workshops offered by the BLET Education and Training Department from 2006 to the present. Becoming a Member Click the link below to access the member area. He served as Local Chairman of Division 382 from 2000 to 2015. Also, his great uncle was a conductor for the Penn Central and the Southern Pacific. He has held continuous membership in BLET Division 776 (Galveston, Texas) since initiating into the Brotherhood on February 1, 1980. History Approximately 475 delegates will represent more than 33,000 active locomotive engineers and Memorial Page Accidental Death & Dismemberment The national officers for the next term will be elected by the delegates during Railroads face a traffic backlog and operatorNorfolk Southern February 16, 2023 | Commuter Rail, Contract Negotiations, Headlines. Brother Lyons has served the National Division in various capacities. Brother Semenek began his railroad career on the Soo Line Railroad in August of 1991 when he hired out as a Conductor. In a show of dedication to the Brotherhood and its members, Brother Crow relocated to Clinton, Iowa when he was elevated to the office of 1st Vice Chairman in September of 2012. . Other key negotiations he was involved in include the 2004-2006 Alternative Forms of Compensation, 2008-2010 RSIA issues, 2010-2012 UP On-Property, 2009 BLET vs Union Pacific Railroad argued before the United States Supreme Court (docket 08-604) case which resulted in a 9-0 ruling in favor of the BLET. Brother Verna is proud to be a third generation railroader. BLET's change from delegate elections in convention to rank and file elections of National Division Officers was . In 2012, 2015 and in 2019 Brother Bagby was elected by acclamation to the position of First Vice General Chairman. In 2014, Brother Holdcraft was elected Seventh Alternate Vice President at the BLETs Third National Convention in Las Vegas. I am also the Vice General Chairman of the SE General Committee of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen. He was promoted to serve as Chairman of the New York State Legislative Board in 2008 and held that office until 2010. February 16, 2023 | Derailment, East Palestine-NS, Headlines, NS. Journals, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, FRA Certification Helpline: (216) 694-0240, BLET calls on Congress to fix FMLA flaw that harms rail workers, Rail Labor joins Senators Sanders and Braun to demand paid sick leave, Save the date: 2023 BLET regional meetings, Major NS derailment and chemical spill in East Palestine, Ohio, Norfolk Southern backs out of East Palestine town hall meeting, A week after evacuations lifted, East Palestine residents pack meeting to express doubts about safety, Excess weight and length caused train to break down in days before it derailed in Ohio, employees say, East Palestine derailment could bring cancer risk, millions in damage, NJ Transit engineers are ready to strike over their wages, BLET says, FRA adds $2.2 billion to intercity passenger rail grant funding, STB rejects Foster Farms emergency service order request, BLET President Hall statement on NTSBs preliminary report on the East Palestine derailment, BLET President Hall responds to rail safety recommendations proposed today by U.S. Transportation Secretary Buttigieg, BLETs Springfield Terminal members to vote on implementing agreement, RRB announces Spring 2023 Pre-Retirement Seminars, BLET members ratify new contract with Illinois Railway, Ballots mailed in tentative BLET, CP Rail/SOO Line tentative agreement, Ballots mailed to BLET members in tentative DM&E, KCS implementing agreement, BLET Members Register for the Website Member Area. INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, August 3 The BLET National Division has launched a new website https://bletconvention.org to provide key information to delegates, vendors and guests attending the union's Fifth National Convention, which will be held October 10-13, 2022. The BLET takes the privacy of the Union and Union Members data very seriously. (NS), Crozet, Va. (Amtrak), Draffin, Ky. (CSXT), and Hyndman, Pa. (CSXT). BLET Auxiliary William P. Lyons is a National Vice President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), a Division of the Rail Conference, International Brotherhood of Teamsters. He has been an active union member since Day 1, and has served on Division 28s Local Committee of Adjustment for 12 years. Sign up to receive BLET news alerts, updates and to get informed on actions you can take to support union causes. During his tenure in the BLET he was instrumental in negotiating the $11 million settlement between the UP-CR GCA and the Union Pacific Railroad for claims filed regarding guaranteed extra board regulation and drop turns violations. He also negotiated the agreement between the BLET and the L&IRC in 2019 representing both engineer and trainmen crafts. As General Chairman Brother Driscoll has successfully arbitrated many discipline and rule cases at both CSXT and Conrail, participating in several on-property negotiations. FRA Certification Helpline: (216) 694-0240, National Division Vice President Fannons cousin, Jamie Wallace, and brother-in-law, Patrick Jennings, also are employed by NS in Roanoke, Va. Vice President Fannons son, Shaine, is also employed by NS in Decatur, Ill. Gary D. Best is a National Vice President of the 57,000-member Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), a Division of the Rail Conference, International Brotherhood of Teamsters. (NS), Hoboken, N.J. (NJ Transit), Baltimore, Md. 7061 East Pleasant Valley Road Safety Task Force Daily Headlines shall be not earlier than the first Monday in May or later than the first Monday in November.. I started as a manager with Union Pacific for 10 years and I have been a trainman for the past 16 years. His mother Janie was very active in the Grand International Auxiliary (GIA), serving as a national officer, and also served as Executive Secretary of the NS-Southern Lines GCA for many years. BLET Auxiliary Finally, while serving as a National Division Trustee, Brother Estes was responsible for auditing the books of the National Division on a monthly basis. At the time of his election in 2018, Vice President Wallace was serving as a National Division Trustee and as General Chairman of the Norfolk Southern-Southern Lines General Committee of Adjustment (GCA), which at the time represented 43 Divisions with over 3,000 members. Brother Vernas railroad career began in 1994 when he hired out as a brakeman for the Southern Pacific Railroad in Los Angeles, Calif. Since joining the Brotherhood, in 1973 he has been elected to numerous offices over his 49+ year career, including Division President, Local Chairman, Legislative Representative, and First Vice General Chairman. Education & Training The goal is to expedite the registration process by providing as much information as possible in advance of the convention, and to serve as a one-stop information source for convention-related news, photographs and videos. In his role as Director of Regulatory Affairs, Verna represented the BLET on numerous rail safety and human factors endeavors, such as the Rail Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) of the Federal Railroad Administration. In 2001, he was elected to the offices of Division 60 Local Chairman and Secretary-Treasurer. He earned promotion to locomotive engineer 1998 after relocating to Tucson, Arizona. On January 1, 2011, he was elevated to the position of General Chairman following the election of his predecessor, Mike Priester, to the BLET Advisory Board. Vice President Holdcraft is a dedicated union leader who has served the Brotherhood in numerous elected offices over the years. Short Term Disability Journals, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, FRA Certification Helpline: (216) 694-0240, BLET President Hall statement on NTSBs preliminary report on the East Palestine derailment, BLET President Hall responds to rail safety recommendations proposed today by U.S. Transportation Secretary Buttigieg, BLETs Springfield Terminal members to vote on implementing agreement, RRB announces Spring 2023 Pre-Retirement Seminars, BLET members ratify new contract with Illinois Railway, Norfolk Southern backs out of East Palestine town hall meeting, A week after evacuations lifted, East Palestine residents pack meeting to express doubts about safety, Excess weight and length caused train to break down in days before it derailed in Ohio, employees say, East Palestine derailment could bring cancer risk, millions in damage, NJ Transit engineers are ready to strike over their wages, BLET says. 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