CLEVELAND, May 14 — The BLET Education & Training Department, in conjunction with the BLET Arbitration Department, is offering a General Chairman’s workshop in Cleveland during the week of July 21, 2014.
Among other items, the workshop will focus on writing, including the preparation of submissions for arbitration and general business correspondence. Additionally, the workshop has been expanded by one day and will include a review of the Railway Labor Act.
“The Education & Training Department has received numerous requests from General Chairmen for an expanded workshop format that includes a longer segment on the Railway Labor Act,” said BLET National Secretary-Treasurer Bill Walpert, Director of the Education and Training Department. “The upcoming workshop has been configured based on those requests.”
The workshop will begin at 9 a.m. on Monday, July 21, and will run through Thursday, July 24. Hotel check out and travel home is scheduled for Friday, July 25, 2014.
Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, and is limited to the first 12 registrants. Interested parties must register through the BLET website at www.ble-t.org/gc.
Attendance is limited to General Chairmen and/or any subordinates they designate who are engaged in arbitration work. If you are not a General Chairman, then you must have your General Chairman’s permission to attend the workshop.
The Education & Training Department asks that you bring a copy of your basic Schedule Agreement for reference. It is also important to bring your own portable computer to class with you on the day of orientation. Ideally, you should bring whatever portable technology you typically use to perform your duties, whether it be a laptop, Mac, tablet, iPad, or whatever your machine of choice. Before your arrival, find out if your machine has Wi-Fi capabilities. If your machine is not Wi-Fi compatible, please let Jason Wright know in advance so he can make arrangements.
While there is no tuition for the class, attendees are responsible for all other expenses.
Upon successful completion of the course, attendees will qualify for a $129 per day stipend from the North American Railway Foundation. The stipends will be paid directly to the General Committee Secretary-Treasurer.
The North American Railway Foundation (NARF) is a non-profit operating foundation formed by the Brotherhood’s Relief and Compensation Fund (BR&CF) to support rail history, education, safety, and technology in the United States and Canada. With initial funding and continued Board of Directors stewardship coming from the BR&CF, NARF has supported many non-political projects throughout the United States and Canada over the past 18 years. The primary focus of these efforts has been in support of organized rail labor — giving back to all of the men and women of the railroad community across North America.
Workshop instructors will include: BLET National Secretary-Treasurer William C. Walpert; BLET Vice President & Arbitration Director Marcus Ruef; Coordinator of Education and Training Jason Wright; and Assistant Director of Arbitration Doug Davidson.
The BLET pays the costs of books and equipment. Officers who attend are responsible for their transportation costs, along with the cost of room and board. Special arrangements have been made at the Hyatt Regency on the Arcade, Cleveland, Ohio for a BLET block room rate of $129. Once your attendance at the workshop has been approved, you will be sent a confirmation letter that will include instructions on how to reserve a room at the hotel.
For more information, please contact Jason Wright, Coordinator of the BLET Education & Training Dept., at (216) 296-4447 or wright@ble-t.org.