CLEVELAND, July 12 — Brother Jim L. Dayton was reelected Chairman of the Union Pacific-Western Region General Committee of Adjustment during the Committee’s quadrennial convention held June 26-28, 2012, in Boise, Idaho.
Brother Dayton was first elected General Chairman at the Board’s quadrennial convention in June of 2008. A member of BLET Division 236 (Portland, Ore.), Brother Dayton hired out with the Union Pacific Railroad in April 1976 as a B & B Carpenter. He transferred into engine service as a fireman in April 1977 and joined BLE Division 236 in November 1977.
Also elected during the quadrennial session were:
• Steve J. Leyshon (Division 766, Las Vegas, Nevada), who was reelected to his second term as First Vice-Chairman;
• Will C. Wallace (Division 362, La Grande, Ore.), who was elected by acclamation to his first term as Second Vice-Chairman;
• Raymond Letcher (Division 349, Salt Lake City, Utah), who was elected by acclamation to his first term as Third Vice-Chairman;
• Tom Preston (Division 236, Portland, Ore.), who was reelected by acclamation as Secretary-Treasurer; and
• Chad Holub (Division 766, Las Vegas), who was elected by acclamation as Alternate Secretary-Treasurer.
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce represented the National Division at the meeting, along with Vice President Mike Twombly. Both men addressed the group regarding various matters of national importance.
“On behalf of the National Division, I congratulate and thank these Brothers for their participation in the Organization,” President Pierce said. “I know Brother Dayton and his team will continue doing an excellent job of representing our Brothers and Sisters who work for the Union Pacific Railroad.”
Representatives from the Brotherhoods Relief & Compensation Fund (BRCF), Locomotive Engineers & Conductors Mutual Protective Association (LECMPA) and Rail Marketing Services each addressed the group regarding job insurance and disability issues.
Union Pacific Railroad Employees Health System (UPREHS) President Dell Butterfield gave a presentation on the status of the association, its plans for addressing changes under the new national agreement, and the effect of the new national health care law on UPREHS.
Attorneys specializing in railroad injury and whistleblower litigation discussed the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), the need for proper personal injury reporting and the 2008 Rail Safety Improvement Act whistleblower provisions.
Brother Dayton has served the Brotherhood in many capacities over the years, including Local Chairman of Local Division 236, General Chairman of the former Union Pacific Oregon Division (1980-1987), BLE International Vice-President (1987-1991), and Vice General Chairman-at-Large and Second Vice-Chairman of UP–WR GCA (1991-2000). Brother Dayton also served as a regional mobilization coordinator for the BLE International from 1991 to 2000, and he was Chairman of the Bylaws Committee during the BLET’s Second National Convention in Reno, Nevada, in 2010.
The Union Pacific Western Region GCA consists of 20 different divisions with more than 1,000 locomotive engineers and trainmen throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Nevada, employed by the Union Pacific, Eastern Idaho, Portland & Western, and Willamette and Pacific, and Portland Terminal railroad companies. Earlier this year, the GCA successfully completed negotiations with three railroads and obtained agreements that were effective in March, May and July 2012.