CLEVELAND, April 29 — Kent N. Confer, a member of BLET Division 623 (McCook, Neb.), has been appointed as a Special Representative and Director of Organizing by BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce. He will also continue to serve as the BLET’s National Mobilization Coordinator for the Western United States.
Brother Confer hired out on the Burlington Northern in 1973 and earned promotion to locomotive engineer in 1979. He has held continuous membership in Division 623 since joining the Brotherhood on May 1, 1979.
“Kent has our full support at the National Division and I am sure he will be an asset to the Organization in his new position just as he has been in the past,” President Pierce said.
In his new position, Brother Confer will be responsible for coordinating all organizing efforts for the BLET National Division. He will also coordinate all BLET mobilization efforts west of the Mississippi River and will handle other duties as assigned by the National President.
Brother Confer was elected Secretary-Treasurer of his Division in 1980, later winning elections to serve as Division President and Local Chairman. He has also represented Division 623 as Delegate to six BLET national conventionsand served as 1st Alternate Vice General Chairman on the BNSF/MRL General Committee of Adjustment.
Known across the BNSF system for his dedication to safety, Brother Confer has served on the BNSF System Cab Committee since 1995, and has held the position of Labor Co-Chairman since 2007. He was also appointed BLET Safety Coordinator in 2002, a position he held until April 1, 2011.
He has been a member of the BLET’s National Mobilization Team since 1997, and has served as BNSF/MRL GCA Coordinator and BNSF System Coordinator.
Brother Confer and his wife Anne have been married for 38 years. The couple has three adult children and two grandchildren (with two more grandkids on the way).