CLEVELAND, September 28 — On September 26, the U.S. Senate confirmed Walter A. Barrows to serve as the Labor Member of the Railroad Retirement Board.
Brother Barrows is the candidate unanimously endorsed by the BLET and the Teamsters Rail Conference Policy Committee, and he currently serves as Secretary-Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS).
“Brother Barrows has our unanimous support and his expertise as a Trustee for the Railroad Retirement Investment Trust makes him by far the most qualified person for the position,” said Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President and President of the Teamsters Rail Conference. “On behalf of the BLET, and the men and women of the Rail Conference, I offer congratulations to Brother Barrows on his hard-earned confirmation.”
President Barack Obama nominated Brother Barrows for the RRB Labor Member position in March of 2011. Regarding Brother Barrows and other nominees, President Obama said: “I am honored that these talented individuals have decided to join this Administration and serve our country. I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come.”
Brother Barrows was elected to Secretary-Treasurer of the BRS in 1999 and was reelected in 2002, 2006, and 2010.
In 2004, 2007, and 2010, Barrows was elected as a labor Trustee to oversee the National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust Fund. The Trust manages investments currently totaling approximately $25 billion. BLET National Secretary-Treasurer Bill Walpert, who was appointed to serve as a shadow Trustee in May of 2011, will fill the position vacated by Barrows and become a full Trustee.
Barrows is replacing outgoing Labor Member V. M. “Butch” Speakman on the three-member board. Speakman is retiring at the end of the year.
The Teamsters Rail Conference Policy Committee is comprised of members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, both divisions of the Rail Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.