CLEVELAND, April 16 — The members of BLET Division 3 in Cleveland are a walking a little taller these days, thanks to a morale booster in the form of a pro-BLET billboard.
“It may seem a little off the wall, but it really has people talking,” said Dennis Vasko, President of Division 3.
The billboard, paid for with funds from the Division’s budget, highlights the work of Division 3 leaders to bring jobs to Cleveland.
“With the bad economy and job reductions and overly aggressive management, we’ve been taking it on the chin lately,” said Vasko, whose members work for CSX. “So we wanted to show how we’re working hand-in-hand with the city and the county to bring good jobs to Cleveland.”
The billboard states, “Pulling for job creation in greater Cleveland: Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, Division 3.” The billboard shows a locomotive and the BLET logo in the foreground, while the skyline of downtown Cleveland and an American flag are in the background.
The billboard is positioned across the street from the entrance to CSX’s Collinwood Yard on Cleveland’s east side, so members see it when they drive out of the yard. Vasko said response to the billboard has been positive from both BLET members and those in other crafts.
“Our members are walking a little taller now, so the billboard is a good thing,” Vasko said.
The Division 3 Executive Committee proposed the idea of the billboard to the membership, who heartily endorsed it.
Members of the executive committee have been working behind the scenes with political and business leaders in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County on two key projects that will help bring jobs to the area: A wind turbine project and the relocation of docks along Lake Erie.
“General Electric and several European companies are looking to set up their offices in Cleveland for the wind turbine project,” Vasko said. “The Port of Cleveland is hopefully moving to East 55th Street, which would connect to the CSX line.”
The billboard is a symbol of the work Division 3 has done to bolster the rail industry as well as the city of Cleveland.
“The billboard sends a strong message that we are committed to our terminal and our city,” Vasko said. “We want to make Collinwood a viable yard now and for the future.”
The BLET Division 3 Executive Committee is comprised of: President Vasko; Local Chairman Mike W. Fitzgerald; Secretary-Treasurer Justin V. Sterling; and Legislative Representative Bill K. Ellert.
Vasko said the Division also plans to partner with Teamsters Joint Council 41 to boost the BLET’s community outreach. He said they plan to participate in Labor Day, Memorial Day and Fourth of July parades, among other community outreach programs.
“A lot of us in Division 3 have fire in our bellies,” Vasko said. “We want to get out name out there and bring back union pride with a positive message.”