From left: Tom Grdina with family at his December 30 retirement luncheon: son James, wife Susan, and son John. James is also a BLET employee, working as Director of the BLET Print Shop and Supply/Shipping Department.
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The BLET National Division celebrated the retirement of 41-year employee Tom Grdina with a luncheon on Tuesday, December 30. His retirement became effective January 1, 2026.
Grdina most recently served the BLET as Building Manager, where he had oversight of the daily functions of the building and property. His career with the union began in 1984. Over the years, he served in a variety of roles with the BLET Building Department, including many years as a painter at the Standard Building, the BLET’s former headquarters building in downtown Cleveland.
In 2009, Grdina was instrumental in securing the safe return of the union’s historic mural, titled “History of United States Locomotives.” The mural hung in the lobby of the BLET’s Engineers Building for 50 years beginning in the 1930s, but it was loaned to the Gund Foundation when the Engineers Building was demolished in 1989. A stipulation of the loan agreement required the return of the mural to the BLET if it was ever taken off display. The mural hung at Gund Arena (now Rocket Arena), home of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, but was taken down and put into storage when the arena was redecorated in the early 2000s. Grdina tracked down the mural and made sure that it was returned to its rightful owner in 2009. The massive mural, over 100 feet long, is currently on display at the BLET National Division headquarters building.
“Tom was a fixture at our Brotherhood for over four decades,” said BLET National President Mark Wallace. “Tom worked diligently to help make our building and grounds something our members could be proud of, spending many early mornings and late nights to make that happen. On behalf of the Advisory Board, National Division staff, and all men and women of the BLET, I express our gratitude and thanks to Tom Grdina for his 41 years of dedicated service to our Brotherhood. Best wishes and happy retirement.”
