SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif., August 24 — Nearly 200 members and officers of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen kicked off a week of educational meetings yesterday during opening ceremonies of the 71st annual International Western Convention (IWC).
The meeting began with a solemn ceremony to remember the BLET Brothers and Sisters who have given their lives in the performance of their duties. Tim Smith, Chairman of the California State Legislative Board, delivered the invocation and listed the names of BLET members who died during on-duty accidents over the past 12 months.
BLET National President Dennis Pierce delivered the keynote address, focusing on the recent attacks against organized labor and updating the members on the status of national negotiations.
“Railroads are trying to piggy back on what’s happening to government workers,” President Pierce said. “While state governments are having trouble making ends meet, the railroads cannot make that argument. They came out of the recession with a profit.”
Members also heard presentations by Mike Collins, Railroad Retirement Board; Anita Caruso, National President, BLET Auxiliary; and Sereena Hogan, National Vice President, BLET Auxiliary.
IWC Secretary-Treasurer Jim Lance (Division 228, Pocatello, Idaho) opened the convention and welcomed everyone to California on behalf of Arrangements Chairman Mike Galvani and the members of Division 664.
The afternoon concluded with a closed meeting for BLET members, who heard detailed reports from National President Pierce; First Vice President Lee Pruitt; National Secretary-Treasurer Bill Walpert; National Vice President & National Legislative Representative John Tolman; National Vice President Mike Priester; and National Vice President Cole Davis.
Members will take advantage of numerous educational workshops throughout the remainder of the week. There will be a Secretary-Treasurer workshop; Local Chairman/Mock Investigation workshop; Legislative Representative workshop; two Mobilization workshops; Hazardous materials workshop; and a Trustees workshop.
It was also announced that next year’s IWC will be in Billings, Mont., July 29-August 2, 2012.
Photos of this week’s events are available here:
www.flickr.com/photos/bletunion/sets