INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, October 20 — A large contingent of BLET members and officers participated in a solidarity rally in Houston on October 18.
The rally was an all-day meeting, held from noon to 7:00 p.m. The purpose was to create and show solidarity among members of BLET, SMART-TD, BMWED, along with members of other invited rail labor unions.
BLET officers in attendance included: National President Dennis Pierce; National Vice President Alan Holdcraft, General Chairman Robby Cunningham (BNSF-Former AT&SF); General Chairman Jeff Thurman (BNSF former STL-SF); Vice General Chairman Jeremy McFather, (BNSF-Former AT&SF); Vice General Chairman Bart Jones (BNSF former STL-SF); as well as several Local Division officers.
SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson was also in attendance with representatives from a number of SMART-TD General Committees and Locals in the Houston area. A number of BMWED Brothers and Sisters were also active participants.
It was a full house for the rally, and hardly a seat was available at SPJST Lodge #88 in Houston. President Pierce and President Ferguson made a joint presentation to all attendees regarding the status of the tentative national contract.