CLEVELAND, April 26 — Leaders of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and International Brotherhood of Teamsters will continue discussions regarding a merger or affiliation in Las Vegas next week.
The BLE-Teamster talks will take place after the Teamster’s one-day special convention for “Building Teamster Power.”
In meetings that took place in early April, BLE First Vice-President Ed Rodzwicz and General Secretary-Treasurer Bill Walpert met with and interviewed the directors of the various Teamster departments at its headquarters in Washington.
It is anticipated that, following the meetings in Las Vegas next week, the BLE Oversight Committee — comprised of President Don M. Hahs, Brothers Rodzwicz and Walpert, and Vice-President & U.S. National Legislative Representative Raymond Holmes — will appoint other ad hoc committees to expand the merger/affiliation discussions.
On February 27, the BLE’s Advisory Board unanimously approved a motion allowing the BLE’s Executive Committee to explore a possible merger or affiliation with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, in accordance with Section 1(e) of the BLE Constitution & Bylaws.
The proposed merger or affiliation would create the largest union in the AFL-CIO and the largest transportation union in North America.