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The seven BLE divisions off the Wisconsin Central formed their General Committee of Adjustment at meetings held December 2-4, and elected Ken Davis their first-ever General Chairman.
Brother Davis also holds the position of Local Chairman for Division 209 in Green Bay, Wisc.
The newly-formed Wisconsin Central General Committee of Adjustment during their initial meetings held December 2-4 in Wisconsin. From left, Superior, Wisc. Division 188 Local Chairman Richard Arnold; Schiller Park, Ill. Wisconsin Central GCofA Secretary-Treasurer and Division 184 Local Chairman Johnathan Fenlaciki; Neenah, Wisc. Division 175 Local Chairman Douglas Yakes; Fond du Lac, Wisc. Division 173 Local Chairman Robert Chupka; Wisconsin Central General Chairman Ken Davis; Gladstone, Mich. Division 185 Local Chairman Robert "Buzz" Richards; WC Vice-General Chairman & Div. 173 Secretary-Treasurer Jeff Bochman; and Stevens Point, Wisc. Division 174 Local Chairman John Woyak Jr.
Jeff Bochman was elected Vice-General Chairman, and is also secretary-treasurer of Division 173 in Fond du Lac, Wisc.
"I extend my congratulations to Ken Davis on his election," BLE President Clarence Monin said. "I am confident he will be successful in his role as General Chairman."
During the three days of meetings, local chairmen from the seven Wisconsin Central divisions elected their officers, formed their general committee of adjustment, and formulated their bylaws.
"The meeting was very successful," President Monin said. "Our Wisconsin Central engineers are well on their well to learning the satisfaction that will only come from governing themselves."
The WC engineers chose BLE representation following a National Mediation Board-governed election in July. The victory was the result of a six-month organizing campaign conducted by BLE Special Representatives Jim Bradford, Sonny Hamm, Dave Hanson, Tommy Miller and John Tolman. The organizing victory has brought more than 300 new members into the BLE. ·
From left: First Alternate Vice-President Dale McPherson, who was recently appointed by the International Division to coordinate short line railroad contracts; International Vice-President William Walpert; WC General Chairman Ken Davis; and International Vice-President Ed Rodzwicz.
In an effort to provide the Federal Railroad Administration with first-hand accounts of railroad carrier intimidation and harassment tactics, BLE President Clarence Monin has asked all members to fill-out and return the form attached here.
"The Federal Railroad Administration has begun to take a serious look at the issue of harassment and intimidation of injured railroad employees," Monin said. "It's their purpose to curtail the filing of personal injury reports."
The information provided by members in this online form will be put together in a report, which will be submitted to the FRA.
Members are asked to report their date of injury, then provide the original date of the scheduled hearing on the fourth line of the form.
"I am interested in showing that a disciplinary hearing is normally scheduled within a few days after the date of the injury," Monin said. "Please enter the requested information into the form, even if you were injured and no disciplinary action was taken against you.
"We have the opportunity to change the culture of this industry insofar as the harassment and intimidation of injured workers is concerned," Monin said. "We cannot afford to let this opportunity pass. Your help will be greatly appreciated." ·
CLEVELAND BLE General Secretary-Treasurer Russell W. Bennett announced tentative dates for seven secretary-treasurer education workshops in 1998.
Conducted in the same fashion as the 1997 workshops, secretary-treasurers who attend will be instructed on proper bookkeeping, record-keeping, dues handling, filing of taxes and division-level compliance with various Department of Labor and IRS regulations.
There will be fewer workshops this year than last because of budgetary cutbacks.
Brother Bennett encourages all interested parties to contact him at (216) 241-2630, extension 227.
"It is imperative that you quickly respond and apprise me if you will be able to attend any of these sessions," Bennett said. "If none of the dates are feasible, please jot down a note and let me know."
Early registration is encouraged.
"If a sufficient number of you do not notify me that you will attend, I will have to cancel the session to reduce costs," Bennett said.
The tentative workshops are scheduled for:
For further details and registration information, contact BLE Tax Administrator Elaine Reese at (216) 241-2630, extension 243, or Patti Smith at extension 227. ·
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