CLEVELAND, March 6 — Employees of the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad (IC&E) reaffirmed their allegiance to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen today by voting overwhelmingly in favor of the BLET in a representation election.
IC&E workers originally joined the Brotherhood in December of 2002, and thanks to the BLET, they obtained their first-ever union contract in January of 2005. These dedicated members showed their appreciation to the Brotherhood by voting 164-88 to remain BLET members, clearly rejecting a takeover attempt by the United Transportation Union.
First Vice President Paul Sorrow, head of the BLET’s Organizing Department and Short Line Department, gave special recognition to Vice President Mike Twombly for his hard work and dedication.
“This was an extremely difficult, hard fought representation election, and it is thanks in part to Brother Twombly that the BLET was successful,” First Vice President Sorrow said.
He also thanked Tommy Miller, BLET Director of Organizing, for his superb effort.
“Things were looking bleak until Tommy Miller showed up on the scene,” Sorrow said. “He virtually lived on the railroad throughout the entire representation election.
“But most importantly, I wish to thank our loyal and dedicated members in Kansas City, Mo., Mason City, Iowa, Savannah, Ill., Quad Cities, Iowa, and all across the railroad for supporting the Brotherhood in the face of an aggressive foe.”
Organizers Bob Kreuzer and Bob Ramshaw also lent assistance from the Teamsters Rail Conference.
The Iowa Chicago & Eastern Railroad began operations is 2002 with 1,400 miles of track in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin. IC&E’s main lines extend from Chicago to Kansas City, Mo., and from Sabula, Iowa along the Mississippi River northwesterly to Minneapolis-St. Paul using trackage rights over the Canadian Pacific from La Crescent, Minnesota, to the Twin Cities. Branch lines (known as the “Corn Lines”) extend from Marquette, Iowa, west to Mason City and Sheldon, and from Austin, Minn., to Jackson and to Rosemount.