Advisory Board Profile

Spring 2000
Volume 107 - No. 1

Advisory Board Profile

Teamwork

McPherson says working together is the key to success

for the future of the BLE

From the time 27 years ago Dale McPherson worked laying 125 miles of ties in the summer sun, to his rise last year to International Vice-President for the BLE, he has always been part of a team. And he believes that it is teamwork that will help the BLE survive for another 137 years.

McPherson began his railroad career on a Burlington Northern tie gang in the spring of 1973. During that summer, he and another worker put in every tie from Ryder, N.D. to Miles City, Mont., a 125 mile stretch of track. At that time, the ties were pulled in under the rail by a hook on the end of a cable. On a number of days, the gang put in between 700 and 1,000 ties.

While working on the tie gang, McPherson would often look up at the passing engineers and think that the cab looked like a better place to be. When the tie gang closed down in September 1973, McPherson called the roundhouse in Glendive, Mont. and found out they were hiring. He went to work there the following morning.

He worked as a hostler-helper, hostler and pipefitter apprentice until June 1974, when he began to work nights as a hostler and took brakeman classes during the day. In October 1974, he tied up one morning as a switch foreman on the midnight job and went out that same afternoon as a fireman in the Locomotive Engineer training program. His first trip was with Richard Wanner, a retired BLE member.

Dale earned his promotion in April 1975, during the first real hiring boom since the 282 award. A significant increase in coal traffic allowed McPherson to hold a regular pool turn in June of 1975, working from Dickinson, N.D. back into his home terminal.

One of McPherson's early mentors was Pete Backmeier, who was Local Chairman of BLE Division 195, which then included Glendive and Forsyth, Mont. McPherson filled out his BLE application with Bachmeier. Bachmeier would later become instrumental in bringing McPherson into the leadership team of the BLE by convincing him to run for Local Chairman.

"Pete was a heck of a guy and a good friend. I miss him," said McPherson.

In late 1979, Bachmeier determined that it was time for him to step aside. He convinced McPherson to take his place as local chairman.

After attending his first General Committee of Adjustment meeting in 1980, it became apparent that a division in Glendive would be beneficial to the members there. McPherson, with the help of Bachmeier and current Special Representative Dave Ditzel, got Division 180 chartered in Glendive, and McPherson was elected Local Chairman.

"With a lot of help from Dave and Pete, the membership of Division 180 doubled in that first year," said McPherson. "In the last 26 years, I've met a lot of fine people, but I'd still say, overall, the group in Glendive was the best bunch of railroaders I've been around."

In 1983, Dale was elected First Alternate Vice-Chairman on the BN General Committee. In 1986, he was elected to a full-time Vice Chairman position and in 1991, he became General Chairman upon William Keppen's elevation to Vice-President.

As McPherson rose up the ladder of BLE leadership, he always believed that he was part of a larger team.

"In everything that I have done from working at the local level, to the General Committee and now working for the International, accomplishments are the product of team efforts. In this business, singular efforts usually only produce singular rewards."

Looking back, McPherson recalls the BN sale of the south line to Montana Rail Link as "an immensely controversial time." He says he feels fortunate that he had the opportunity to work with others, including Ron Dean.

Another noticeable instance where teamwork was crucial was the BN and Santa Fe merger.

"We sat down and negotiated through some very difficult issues and got agreements that were ratified," said McPherson. "The other General Chairmen and Vice Chairmen involved were top notch, and the Local Chairmen that were involved were a critical element. It was their input concerning the day to day things at their respective locations that was crucial to putting together agreements that dealt with real situations."

"I have been fortunate to have worked with some very talented and dedicated people," said McPherson. "And those of the BNSF General Committees are as good as you could ask for."

In 1998, McPherson was asked to coordinate contracts and assist in organizing shortlines for the BLE. While most of his duties involved negotiating contracts, he did assist during the organization effort on Wisconsin Central and later assisted former WC General Chairman Ken Davis and current General Chairman Jeff Bochman in securing the first labor contract on that railroad.

In August 1999, McPherson was elevated to the position of International Vice-President. Currently, McPherson's assignments include both shortlines and Class 1 railroads.

In his time away from the BLE, Dale enjoys the outdoors, especially hunting, fishing and boating. He also enjoys woodworking when he has the time.

Watching his youngest son, Andrew, play basketball is one of his favorite hobbies. Andrew is one of McPherson's three children. His daughter, Amy, is recently married to Carson, an Airborne Ranger stationed at Fort Benning, Ga. His oldest son, Aaron, is a junior at the University of Wisconsin at River Falls. Dale and Lisa Kreter, live in Saint Paul, Minn. with their "little, 130-pound" Rottweiller, Jake.

"There is a long and proud tradition (in the BLE) and I'm proud to be a part of it. But, this union has some serious issues confronting it right now and tradition alone will not be enough to carry the day," McPherson said.

"The leadership is going to have to make some difficult decisions and the membership is going to have to find ways to support those decisions if we are going to work through these issues and move forward as the BLE." ·

Back to Spring 2000 Journal