Pierce appoints John Fink to President’s Staff
CLEVELAND, October 16 — BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce announced today that Division 3 Local Chairman John F. Fink has been appointed to a position on the President’s Staff, effective Monday, October 22.
A Cleveland native, the 31-year old Fink hired as a Trainman with CSXT on March 27, 2000, and served as President of UTU Local 378 for two terms. He earned promotion to Locomotive Engineer on October 8, 2004. Fink joined the BLET in 2007, and has served as Vice Local Chairman and as Local Chairman of Division 3 in Cleveland.
Brother Fink is a fourth generation railroader. His great grandfather, Fred Fink, worked as a Trainman and Yardmaster for New York Central Railroad, starting at Collinwood Yard in 1930. Grandfather Jim Fink also worked at Collinwood as a Trainman for the New York Central, the Penn Central and Conrail from 1955 until 1989, and was an active member of the United Transportation Union (“UTU”).
Brother Fink’s father, Fred, hired on the Penn Central in the Car Department in 1974 and later worked for the Penn Central, Conrail and CSXT. He has been President of Transport Workers’ Union Local 2019 for over 20 years, and for the past eight years has been an International Representative for the Transport Workers Union of America (“TWU”), where he represents that Union on the Federal Railroad Administration’s Railroad Safety Advisory Committee, and AAR Safety Appliance Task Force.
Brother Fink has two children — 5-year old daughter Addison and 3-year old son Colten — and enjoys fishing and watching Ohio State football. He also is a fan of the Cleveland Browns, the Indians and the Cavaliers.
“John Fink brings a rare combination to the National Division, which will serve the BLET membership very well,” said President Pierce. “He brings the energy of youth to all his endeavors, which is focused by a lifetime of understanding, first-hand, the importance of railroad unions and service to the membership. In the year that I’ve known him, I have come to appreciate the blend of talents John applies to his work of representing BLET members.”
In accepting the appointment, Brother Fink said, “It is an honor to join your staff. Thank you for this opportunity. I will work hard every day to serve you and my fellow Brothers and Sisters.”
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
bentley@ble.org
