CLEVELAND, May 7 — The BLE Executive Committee attended the International Brotherhood of Teamsters’ Special Convention, held on April 30, in Las Vegas, Nevada. After the convention, members of the BLE Executive Committee and officials of the Teamsters continued a series of discussions regarding a merger or affiliation of the two organizations.
Among the issues discussed during these meetings was a membership per capita fee that the BLE International Division would pay to the Teamsters each month, in the event BLE members voted in favor of a merger of affiliation. This fee would be structured after the way all AFL-CIO affiliates pay a monthly per capita fee to the national AFL-CIO. Discussions also touched on health and welfare issues and the resources that the Teamsters and BLE have to offer.
“The meetings went very well and we are optimistic that the terms and conditions for a merger or affiliation of the BLE and the IBT will be worked out to the satisfaction of our members, who will have the final say on this issue,” BLE President Don M. Hahs said.