CLEVELAND, July 9 — The BLET National Division is activating its mobilization network to launch a “get out the vote” campaign regarding the National Division officer election initiative.
The BLET Bylaws are unique in that they include a democratically driven process titled “Initiative.” The Initiative process allows members, through their BLET Divisions, to suggest changes to the BLET’s Bylaws between conventions. All members and their Divisions have the right to utilize this democratic process by first circulating a petition to all BLET Divisions. In the event that Divisions representing 25% of the membership support that petition, the National Division is required to submit the suggested Bylaws changes to the entire membership.
Four BLET Divisions sponsored the current initiative and their petitions did receive the support of Divisions representing more than 25% of the membership. Accordingly, this matter is in the hands of the membership and BLET’s democratic principles allow the membership to determine the course that the Union takes in this matter.
Since there has been relatively low membership participation on referendum votes such as this in the past, the National Division is activating the National Mobilization Team as a means of encouraging as many members as possible to return ballots and participate in the voting process.
Rather than suggesting which way to vote, members of the National Mobilization Team encourage active members to exercise their right to vote and also instruct them on proper voting procedures to ensure that no returned ballots are voided for non-compliance with voting instructions.
The goal is to see that 100 percent of BLET members return their ballots. This is your union and your right to vote is important.
Ballots were circulated on July 1, 2010, and must be returned by August 31, 2010.
For most of its 147-year history, officers of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen were chosen by member-elected delegates in convention (most recently in 2006). An initiative to change the BLET Bylaws and elect officers by a majority vote of all active members was passed in 2006, but did not take effect until after the BLET’s First Quadrennial National Convention. The current initiative would revise the BLET Bylaws so that the process of electing National Division officers would return to a delegate vote in convention.