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Monin attends Sheridan, Wyo. Division 624 meeting, picnic

BLE International President Clarence Monin attended a multi-divisional meeting and picnic hosted by Division 624 in Sheridan, Wyo.

Division 624 Legislative Representative Mike Hoffman invited President Monin to the annual picnic after meeting him for the first time at a Mobilization Rally in Denver in June.

President Monin has a discussion with Steve Garls, local chairman of BLE Division 31 in Bill, Wyo.

"I was so impressed with President Monin and what he had to say, that I wanted to take what I had experienced in meeting him and share it with my fellow division members," Hoffman said. "He has a wonderful disposition, and I wanted people to be able to meet their union president."

Brother Hoffman was the main organizing force behind the meeting, and he received help from Division 624 President Clyde Van Slyke, Secretary-Treasurer Dan Bircher and Local Chairman Steve Washut.

Other divisions attending the meeting included Gillette Division 94, Bill Division 31 and Greybull Division 869.

Another special guest in attendance was Burlington Northern General Chairman Dale McPherson. He gave a presentation on the work/rest projects that are underway with the carrier, including assigned days off in which engineers will be able to choose when they work.

"There was a lot of interest in that," McPherson said. "We're hoping to add some predictability for engineers in unassigned service."

Hoffman had assistance in funding for the picnic from the FELA law firm of Yaeger, Jungbauer, Barczak & Roe, Ltd. He especially recognized the efforts of John Munson, Dick Scott, Denny McGinley and John Magnuson for their efforts in making the picnic a success.

"The weekend turned out fair," Hoffman said. "A lot of trains were running that weekend and not as members were able to attend as I had hoped. But this was just our first time, and we're hoping that maybe we can get it to happen again next year." ·

Several retired members were honored in a special ceremony as President Monin presented them with gifts in recognition of their many years of service. "It was a pleasure to have President Monin here to hand out retirement awards to dedicated members who have put in so many years with the BLE," Brother Mike Hoffman said. Seated, from left, are the retired honorees from Division 624. They are: Bob Tapscott, Ron Hudson, Cliff Junker, Mel Thiel and Joe Dombovy. Standing, from left: Division 624 Local Chairman Steve Washut; BN General Chairman Dale McPherson; President Monin; and Division 624 President Clyde Van Slyke.

During the picnic that afternoon, President Monin found time to speak with, from left, Division 624 Legislative Representative Mike Hoffman, Division 624 Member T.G. Smith, and BN General Chairman McPherson.

BLE Job Bank

Utah Railway Company

The Utah Railway Co. needs experienced locomotive engineers and promoted conductors. A $10,000 hiring bonus is being paid for locomotive engineers with current FRA certification.

Utah Railway is an 85-year-old railroad with union employees represented by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and other rail labor unions. The jobs are in Utah or possibly Grand Junction.

Call (801) 472-3458 for more information, or fax your resume to (801) 472-3744 or (801) 472-3384. Or write:

Luella Davis

Utah Railway Company

340 Hardscrabble Road

P.O. Box 261

Helper, UT 64526

A note to all BLE general chairmen: If you know of vacancies on your railroad and wish them to become a part of the BLE Job Bank, please contact General Secretary-Treasurer Russ Bennett at the International Office, (216) 241-2630 ext. 227, or e-mail to Brother Bennett at: bennett@ble.org.

Advisory Board August Activity

By action of the delegates at the Fifth Quinquennial Convention, summaries of BLE Advisory Board members' activities are published monthly:

International President Clarence V. MoninInternational Office: General supervision of BLE activities, meetings; Conrail, CSX, NS public hearing in Lakewood, Ohio; EUMA; Operation Lifesaver workshop train; TTD, AFL-CIO; CSX, Conrail, NS grassroots mtgs.

First Vice-President & Alternate President Edward DubroskiInternational Office. Assisted president supervising BLE activities; Publications Committee; U.S. Nat'l Legislative Board; coordinated vice-presidents' assignments to general committees of adjustment; EUMA, Canada; National Wage Committee mtg.; AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Dept.; CRO mtg.; Conrail, CSX, NS mtg.

General Secretary-Treasurer Russell W. BennettInternational Office: Supervision of BLE and BLE Building Assn.; Financial depts.; Records Dept.; BLE Job Bank; Publications Committee; EUMA convention; Secretary-Treasurer training class, Pittsburgh.

Vice-President Paul T. SorrowInternational Office, Assisted president and first vice-president in performing duties in connection with Chief of Staff position; EUMA meeting; Visited Divisions 80, 120, 444; Assisted Grand Trunk Western GCofA; Assisted Norfolk Southern GCofA; Attended GCofA meeting, CSX Northern Lines; PLB 4055; Assisted CSX committees-single; Mtgs. in connection with FD 33388 involving Conrail, NS & CSXT.

Vice-President Joseph A. Cassidy Jr.EUMA meeting; National Railway Labor Conference mtg.; National Carriers Conference Committee mtg.; National Railroad Passenger Corp. mtg.; Special Board of Adjustment 928; Port Authority Trans Hudson; C-2 protection arbitration research; Mtg. w/ National Mediation Board, contract negotiations; Duluth, Missabe, & Iron Range; NYS&W; D&H.

Vice-President & U.S. Nat'l Legislative Representative Leroy D. JonesWashington D.C. Office; SMA; AFL-CIO admin. mtg.; TTD leg. mtg.; TTD rail div. leg. mtg.; Markup, Transp. FY98 Transp. Approps. staff mtg.; TTD/Conrail; BLE mtg. with NRLC; Reception for Evan Bayh, Democratic candidate, U.S. senate, Ind.; ; Wisconsin Central; Mtgs. w/ Congressmen Obey (D-WI), Deutsch (D-FL), McDonald (D-CA), Danner (D-MO), Quinn (R-NY), Pascrell (D-NJ), Johnson (D-WI); Bonior (D-MI), LaTourette (R-OH), Franks (R-NJ); Mtgs. with Senators Inouye (D-HI), Boxer (D-CA), Reed (D-RI), Lautenberg (D-NJ), Kohl (D-WI); AFL-CIO mtg., National Conference State Legislatures; High Speed Rail Gov't. Relations mtg.; Mtg. w/staff Senate Commerce and Senate Appropriations Committee; Mtg. w/staff House Transportation & Infrastructure committee; Full committee markup, Amtrak Legislation (HR 2247); Rail Labor Legislative Mtg., Amtrak legislation.

Vice-President James L. McCoyEUMA meeting; MidSouth Rail-BLE Convention; UP local chairmen's mtg.; UP-SP merger mtgs. pertaining to Longview Hub and Little Rock Hub agreements; Roseville Hub and Portland Hub agreements; Eastern Idaho RR mtg.; PLB 6030 and PLB 5942; Home office; Initialed Longview Texas agreement to be put out for ratification; Illinois Central, Kansas City Southern, METRA, SPCSL, Terminal Rwy. of St. Louis, UP-SP merger.

William C. WalpertInternational Office; BLE Education & Training Dept.; Internal Organizing, Mobilizing & Strategic Planning Dept.; EUMA convention; Publications Committee; Public Relations Dept.; BLE Information & Technology Council; BLE Safety Task Force; BLE Special Reps.; National Mobilization Team; EUMA convention; Wage study panel; CSX-N GCofA mtg. for mobilization training; Grassroots mtg. on acquisition of Conrail.

Vice-President Edward W. RodzwiczEUMA meeting; Conrail, NS, CSX merger mtgs.; South Buffalo Rwy. seniority dispute, claims and grievances; Mtg. w/ BLE NS, CSX, Conrail general chairmen and NS VP of Labor Relations R. Spenski and CSX VP of Labor Relations K. Peifer; Conrail SBA 894; Additional mtgs. w/ Spenski and Peifer; Conrail Q&A submission for deposition.

Vice-President Don M. Hahs UP-SP merger; BN-SF merger; Tacoma Belt; Montana Rail Link; Wage/rule agreement, Tacoma Belt employees, tentative agreement reached; UP-SP merger, Longview, Little Rock & Portland Hubs; PLB 5939 BNSF; UP-SP shippers' meeting (poor service in Houston area).

Vice-President Richard K. RadekInternational Office; BLE Decertification Helpline services; Director of Arbitration Dept; Member National Railroad Adjustment Board (NRAB); Rail Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC); National Wage & Rules panel; EUMA meeting; National wage & rules panel; NRAB award adoption; Local chairman training seminar, CSX-North GCofA; Metra/WC 152 sixth conference, dismissal appeal handling, NRAB executive session; Pre-trial conference, engineer decertification case, CP Rail-US, EQAL 96-5; NRAB admin., Sec 3 sub-comm.

Vice-President & Canadian Director Gilles HalléOttawa Office; Various mtgs. w/ CN Rail; Various mtgs. w/ Via Rail; CN Rail pension mtg.; Board of Review, CN-Central; Mtg. w/ Divisions 558 & 753; Via Section 18 hearings.

Vice-President & Canadian National Legislative Representative T. George HuckerOttawa Office; Canadian National Legislative Board mtgs.; EUMA meeting; AAR work/rest task force mtg.; Kawatha Lakes Railway mtg.; Algoma Central Rwy. mtg.; BNSF fatigue mtgs.; CP benefits mtgs.; St. Lawrence & Hudson Rwy. mtgs.

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