Moates reelected at BLET-CSX Western Lines
CLEVELAND, June 18 — Don L. Moates was reelected General Chairman of the BLET-CSXT Western Lines General Committee of Adjustment at meetings on June 6, 2009.
Brother Moates has held continuous membership in BLET Division 782 (Etowah, Tenn.) since December 1, 1971. He was first elected to his current office on August 1, 2005.
Also elected were: Senior Vice General Chairman Matt Thornton (Division 781, Erwin, Tenn.); and Secretary-Treasurer Tim Braden (Division 271, Russell, Ky.).
Representing the National Division at the meeting was First Vice President Paul Sorrow; National Secretary-Treasurer Bill Walpert; and National Vice President Dennis Pierce.
NST Walpert discussed the Brotherhood''''s finances, membership statistics, the business of the BLET''''s Standard Building, and officer eligibility.
As the Vice President assigned to the CSX property, Pierce spoke about implementation of the upcoming Rail Safety Improvement Act and bargaining under the on-property Single System Agreement and its interaction with National handling.
The delegates also enjoyed an informative and extensive report from the BLET Cab Committee,
Brother Moates hired out as a brakeman on the former Louisville & Nashville Railroad in February of 1971. He was promoted to fireman in September of 1971 and earned promotion to locomotive engineer on April 2, 1972.
Since 1973 he has served Division 782 in various capacities, including: Secretary-Treasurer; Member, Local Committee of Adjustment; Education Officer; and Local Chairman. He was also served the L&N GCofA as 1st Alternate Vice Chairman, Junior Vice Chairman and as full time Senior Vice Chairman from 1978 to 1985 and as General Chairman of the former L&N GCofA full time from 1985 to 1994.
He also served as Chairman of the Geiger/Brindle Scholarship Committee and was involved in the National Wage & Rules movement in 1985-86. He has been an Alternate National Vice President since 2006 and was reelected on June 9 to the office of Chairman, Southeastern General Chairman''''s Association.
He and his wife Lee Ann have two sons (ages 32 and 33), one daughter (17 years old), and three grandchildren.
The BLET-CSXT Western Lines General Committee of Adjustment represents nearly 2,200 active members and 1,200 retired members from 29 different Divisions.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
bentley@ble.org
