CLEVELAND, August 31 — By a margin of 72% to 28%, members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) voted today to retain rank and file elections for National Division Officers when they rejected an initiative that would have provided for delegate election of National Division officers.
BLET’s Bylaws are unique in that they allow for Bylaws changes to be proposed between conventions using the initiative process. The vote concluded an initiative introduced late last year by BLET Divisions 13, 98, 155 and 236. The divisions proposed to restore to convention delegates the right to elect National Division officers. This traditional method of electing the top officials of the Brotherhood was changed by an initiative vote in 2006.
Serving on the committee appointed by National President Pierce to count the ballots were Division 115 Member M. F. Chenchar, Division 190 Member B. Freeman, Division 256 Member J. F. Wilmesher, Division 316 Member G. L. Pack, Division 421 Member G. W. Lund, and Division 659 Member T. J. Curran. The committee was assisted by TrueBallot, Inc., which conducted the referendum election.
National President Pierce was pleased by the results of the vote and he thanked all members who took the time to participate in this monumental event. “Turnout was up significantly from the 2006 initiative; this is proof positive that the mobilization efforts designed to get out the vote make a difference,” Pierce said. “The membership has voted to retain rank and file elections for National Division Officers, and our goal going forward will be to encourage all members to exercise their right to vote later this fall when those elections occur.”