CLEVELAND, August 23 — Matt A. Thornton was reelected General Chairman of the BLET’s CSXT Western Lines General Committee of Adjustment at the GCA’s quadrennial meeting in Gatlinburg, Tenn., from July 24-26, 2013.
A CSXT locomotive engineer, Brother Thornton is a member of Division 781 (Erwin, Tenn.) and has held continuous membership in the BLET since June 1, 1981. He was elected Senior Vice General Chairman in 2009, and then assumed the General Chairman’s duties following the promotion of Don Moates to the BLET Advisory Board on July 1, 2010.
Also elected were: Senior Vice General Chairman W.K. (Keith) Kerley, Division 782 (Etowah, Tenn.); and Secretary-Treasurer David Fitzgerald, Division 781 (Erwin, Tenn.).
Alternate officers are as follows: 1st Alternate Ben Freeman, Division 190 (Huntington, W.Va.); 2nd Alternate Justin B. Dzan, Division 365 (Louisville, Ky.); 3rd Alternate Scott A. Berger, Division 489 (Covington, Ky.); 4th Alternate Justin C. Wilcox, Division 781 (Erwin, Tenn.); and 5th Alternate John V. Pedro, Division 26 (Richmond, Va.).
The delegates also elected four Regional Chairmen, including: Eastern Regional Vice General Chairman W.R. (Rick) Skidmore, Division 782 (Etowah, Tenn.); Northern Regional Vice General Chairman Steven E. Kaiser, Division 165 (Louisville, Ky.); Western Regional Vice General Chairman Chad M. Shipp, Division 742 (Evansville, Ind.); and Southern Regional Vice General Chairman E.W. (Bubba) Rice Jr., Division 140 (Mobile, Ala.).
Representing the National Division at the quadrennial meeting were BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce and National Vice President Gil L. Gore. Brother Gore is the Vice President assigned to the CSX properties.
“I congratulate Brother Thornton and all members of the CSX Western Lines General Committee of Adjustment,” President Pierce said. “Under Brother Matt’s leadership, I have every confidence that Committee members will continue doing an excellent job of enforcing their contracts and representing their membership at the highest level. I thank them all for their dedication to the Brotherhood.”
Also in attendance was L.R. (Larry) James, Division 284 (Parkersburg, W.Va.), who serves as the BLET System Liaison for CSX. Brother James gave a presentation regarding the CSX Locomotive Cab Committee.
As the new Senior Vice General Chairman, Brother Kerley fills the office vacated by W.E. Singleton of Division 829 (Ravenna, Ky.). Brother Singleton did not seek reelection due to his pending retirement.
The CSXT Western Lines General Committee of Adjustment represents nearly 3,500 active and retired members from 27 BLET Divisions.