Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
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.
