CLEVELAND, October 22 — Bruce D. MacArthur was reelected by acclamation to his seventh term as General Chairman of the Union Pacific-Northern District General Committee of Adjustment during Quadrennial meetings in Reno, Nevada, September 29-30, 2010.
Brother MacArthur is a Union Pacific locomotive engineer and member of BLET Division 125 (Clinton, Iowa). He joined the BLET on January 11, 1973.
First Vice Chairman Mike Elsberry was also reelected by acclamation to his seventh term of office. Brother Elsberry is also a UP engineer and member of Division 125. He joined the Brotherhood on July 1, 1976.
“I offer my sincere thanks to Brother MacArthur and Brother Elsberry for their many years of hard work and dedication to the Brotherhood,” BLET National President Dennis Pierce said. “Their tireless devotion to the membership has been evident for several decades. I congratulate them and all officers of the General Committee for endeavoring to serve the members.”
Brother MacArthur thanked President Pierce for his kind words and thanked the membership for their confidence in him over the years.
Also elected during the meetings were: 2nd Vice Chairman Dick Crow, Division 404 (Chicago); 3rd Vice Chairman Joe Cummins, Division 683 (Chicago); Secretary-Treasurer Mike Abell, Division 96 (Chicago); and Alternate Secretary-Treasurer Chris Wagner, Division 405 (Milwaukee, Wisc.).
Brother Abell will replace outgoing Secretary-Treasurer Mike Mercier (Division 333, St. Paul, Minn.), who did not seek reelection due to his pending retirement. “Brother Mercier has served the Brotherhood with honor and distinction,” President Pierce said. “He has been an asset to the membership and will be sorely missed. I wish him a happy retirement on behalf of the BLET.”
President Pierce was a featured speaker during the meeting. He addressed the delegates regarding a number of national issues effecting locomotive engineers, including health and welfare negotiations, on-duty use of electronic devices, inward facing video cameras, and locomotive cab security.
Additional guest speakers included BLET First Vice President Lee Pruitt, National Secretary-Treasurer Bill Walpert, and Vice President & National Legislative Representative John Tolman.
The Union Pacific Northern District General Committee of Adjustment represents approximately 1,000 locomotive engineers and trainmen, who work for the Union Pacific Railroad and Metra commuter lines.