CLEVELAND, June 11 — General Chairman Peter M. Semenek was reelected by acclamation at the CP Rail System-U.S. General Committee of Adjustment’s quadrennial meeting in Las Vegas, June 8-9, 2015.
Brother Semenek is a member of BLET Division 790 (Chicago) and he joined the Brotherhood on March 10, 1995. This is his second full term of office, having won election at the GCA’s quadrennial meeting in 2011. He began serving as General Chairman on January 1, 2010, following the elevation of former General Chairman Mike Priester to the BLET Advisory Board.
Also elected during the meeting were: 1st Vice General Chairman Chuck Vesely, Division 253 (Portage, Wisc.); 2nd Vice General Chairman Mark Johnson, Division 117 (Mason City, Iowa); 3rd Vice General Chairman Kyle Donze, Division 294 (Bensenville, Ill.); Secretary-Treasurer Paul Dinauer, Division 882 (Milwaukee, Wisc.); and Alternate Secretary-Treasurer Josh McLeary, Division 575 (Chicago, Ill.). Brothers Vesley, Dinauer and McLeary were all elected by acclamation. The delegates elected three Trustees, all by acclamation: Jim Olson, Division 160 (Harvey, N.D.); Paul Ripplinger, Division 671 (Enderlin, N.D.); and Gordon Kepka, Division 357 (Minneapolis, Minn.).
Representing the BLET National Division at the meeting was: Stephen Bruno, National Secretary-Treasurer; John Tolman, Vice President and National Legislative Representative; Marcus Ruef, National Vice President; Mike Priester, National Vice President; and Cole Davis, National Vice President.
“I congratulate Brother Semenek and all officers of the General Committee of Adjustment, and thank them for their service to our great Brotherhood,” BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce said. “Under Brother Semenek’s determined leadership, I know they will do an excellent job protecting the rights of our membership in the face of Canadian Pacific’s aggressive management style.”
Also attending from the BLET National Division was: Matt Kronyak, Special Representative; Jason Wright, Special Representative and Coordinator of Education and Training; and Doug Davidson, Assistant Director of the Arbitration Department. Brother Davidson and Brother Wright presided over a two-day Local Chairman workshop for all delegates in attendance.
The Committee represents: locomotive engineers on the Canadian Pacific-U.S. (former Soo Line) and Metra; locomotive engineers, conductors and trainees on the Indiana Southern Railroad; and locomotive engineers and train service employees on the former Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad.