Thursday, June 6, was the final day of BLET’s Western Regional Meeting in Kansas City, Missouri. More than 300 BLET members participated in educational workshops and specialized training for Local Chairmen, Legislative Representatives, and Secretary-Treasurers. Additional sessions featured the upcoming BLET triennial elections, which will begin this fall, and retirement planning sessions conducted by the Railroad Retirement Board.
Earlier this week attendees had an opportunity to learn from the union’s Advisory Board about the latest developments in the industry and issues related to the union during a closed-door members-only session. National President Eddie Hall chaired the meeting and during the June 4 opening ceremony said, “With national negotiations just a few months away, Division elections starting in September, and the Presidential election in November, these are crucial times for our members.”
President Hall also addressed recent aggression by outside agitators seeking to raid the BLET and poach members. “I am not seeking a war… I understand the consequences of those actions… but I am damn sure not going to let (another union) attack our members. We will fight back!”
The meeting kicked off Tuesday with a schedule of speakers that included FRA Administrator Amit Bose, Teamsters Rail Conference Director Mike Smith, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, Missouri State Representative Robert Sauls (District 21), Missouri State Representative Patty Lewis (District 25), AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department President Greg Regan, Railroad Retirement Board Labor Member John Bragg, and BLET Auxiliary President Kat Bisbikis.
President Hall recognized the following members and staff for their assistance in planning and hosting the 2024 Western Regional Meeting: National Vice President Jim Louis, Special Representative Matt Kronyak, IT Director Mike Hager, and Arrangements Committee members Daniel Holdcroft, William Rice, Brandon Nunnenkamp, Tim Morgan, Calvin Groose and Greg Lund, along with Brother Dan Lucansky who delivered the invocation.
A gallery of photo highlights can be found here.
