Meeting at BLET National Division headquarters, from left: Vice President Randy Fannon, new head of the Arbitration Department; Denise Doody, Arbitration Department Manager; David Estes, National Secretary-Treasurer; and Dan Lucansky, Director of Arbitration.
Following recent retirements and new officers joining the Advisory Board, the assignments and responsibilities of some Advisory Board members have changed.
Vice President Randy Fannon now serves as Head of the BLET Arbitration Department, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of National Vice President Pete Semenek. The Arbitration Department is responsible for all BLET cases at the National Railroad Adjustment Board’s (NRAB) First Division.
“It is a necessity that our members have resolution for their grievances, whether it be discipline or work rule issues. That resolution comes from the work of the BLET’s Arbitration Department,” said Fannon. “Whether it be First Division cases, Public Law Boards, or Special Boards of Adjustment, this Department will be diligent in offering assistance regardless of the venue.”
Fannon will work with Brother Dan Lucansky, BLET’s Director of Arbitration, and BLET National Division staffer Denise Doody who assists the department by managing an arbitration data base that catalogs all First Division cases, as well as other noteworthy awards from other divisions of the NRAB. The data base is available to all General Committees.
As the new head of the BLET Organizing Department, Vice President James Logan assumes the duties formerly held by Brother Fannon. Logan has been very involved in negotiating short line contracts and now looks to keep the momentum going in a department that has successfully organized 14 new properties, primarily short lines, over the last two years.
“Vice President Fannon established a strong blueprint that has enabled this department to give previously unrepresented railroaders a meaningful voice in the rail industry through the BLET,” said Logan. “Our focus has been clear and aggressive — securing better wages, advancing safety, improving quality of life, and protecting comprehensive healthcare.”
Many of the organizing leads the Organizing Department receives comes from BLET members. If you know of family, friends, or former co-workers who are railroaders employed at a non-union railroad who would like to be represented by BLET, please contact the Organizing Department at organizing@ble-t.org.
Vice President James Logan is now assigned to head the BLET Organizing Department.