CLEVELAND, April 25 — Wisconsin Central General Chairman John W. Reynolds was elected by acclamation at the General Committee’s Triennial meeting in Green Bay, Wisc., from April 22-25.
It is the second time that Brother Reynolds has won reelection by acclamation. He is a member of BLET Division 209 in Green Bay, Wisc., and has been a BLET member since Sept. 1, 1997.
Also elected were: 1st Vice General Chairman John A. Woyak Jr. of BLET Division 174 (Stevens Point, Wisc.); 2nd Vice General Chairman Eric Hau of BLET Division 173 (Fon du Lac, Wisc.); 3rd Vice General Chairman Scott Reinke of BLET Division 188 (Superior, Wisc.); Secretary-Treasurer Jon Fenlaciki of BLET Division 184 (Schiller Park, Ill.); and Alternate S-T Billy Joe Worth of BLET Division 173 (Fon du Lac, Wisc.).
BLET National Secretary-Treasurer Bill Walpert was in attendance and addressed the delegates on April 24. He spoke about the proposed national agreement, the CSX single system agreement, seniority maintenance, IBT per capita, CPA audits of General Committees, membership, finances, and Education and Training workshops.
Other representatives from the National Division were Vice President Rick Radek; National Legislative Representative John Tolman; Special Representative Ken Kroeger; and Doug Davidson of the BLET Arbitration Department. Brother Tolman addressed the delegates on April 23.
Wisconsin State Senator David Hansen gave a presentation to the delegates on April 23. Other special guests included General Chairman Mike Priester; General Chairman John Koonce; Vice General Chairman Mark Whitchurch; Wisconsin State Legislative Board Chairman Tony Dimond; Wisconsin State Legislative Board Vice Chairman Paul Aird; and retired Wisconsin State Legislative Board Chairman Keith Luebke.
Officials from various BLET-designated law firms that specialize in the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) were also in attendance, representing the firms: Rathmann & O””Brien, L.L.C.; Hoey & Farina; Schlichter, Bogard & Denton; Hunegs, LeNeave & Kvas, P.A.; Sands & Associates; Daniel J. Downes, P.C.; and Yaeger, Jungbauer & Barczak, PLC.
Representatives from the Brotherhood’s Relief and Compensation Fund (BRCF) and the Locomotive Engineers & Conductors Mutual Protective Association (LE&CMPA) were also in attendance.
Debbie Rine put on a presentation regarding Railroad Retirement.
Vice President Radek and Brothers Davidson and Kroeger conducted an educational program concerning a disciplinary investigation on April 24.
Delegates also went over new and old business and reviewed their by-laws.
The Wisconsin Central operates over approximately 2,850 miles of track and trackage rights in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan””s Upper Peninsula and Ontario. The BLET organized the Wisconsin Central property in 1997, and the railroad was purchased by CN in 2001 for $1.2 billion.