BLET delegates back two-person train crews on final day of Third National Convention
LAS VEGAS, October 2 – Delegates today adopted a resolution pledging the BLET’s unwavering support for two-person train crews during the final day of the union’s Third National Convention.
“The single employee train crew issue is one of the most important questions facing rail labor, and specifically the BLET,” the resolution reads. “Both SMART and the BLET are supporting federal and/or state legislation to stop the practice of single employee train crews.”
The resolution highlights the plight of workers at the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad (W&LE), who have been fighting against single employee crews for years now, having gone on strike over the issue in 2013.
“It is vital that these brothers and sisters win this struggle and demonstrate to the W&LE – and the other rail carriers as well – that union labor will not accept train operations with a single employee,” the resolution reads.
The delegates resolved to “pledge our unwavering solidarity and assistance to the members of Division 292 to win this fight.” The resolution also calls upon all BLET members and all railroad workers to provide aid and support as necessary in the coming months and years in order to ensure victory.
After passage of the resolution, the BLET’s Pennsylvania State Legislative Board pledged $500 to the cause. Full text of the resolution is copied below.
In other matters, delegates adjourned after completing deliberations on reports from all BLET standing committees, finalizing their work on the Report and Recommendations of the Bylaws Committee.
Previous news updates, photos and videos are available on the BLET convention website (http://www.ble-t.org/convention) and the National Division Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/BLETNational).
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Resolution in support of two-person train crews and BLET Division 292
Whereas, the single employee crew issue is one of the most important questions facing rail labor, and specifically the BLET; and
Whereas, both SMART and the BLET are supporting federal and/or state legislation to stop the practice of single employee train crews; and
Whereas, the workers on the Wheeling & Lake Erie (W&LE) members of BLET #292 have been fighting against single employee crews for a number of years now; and
Whereas, the engineers and trainmen on the W&LE have gone on strike to defend the two-person crew and oppose the W&LE use of single employee crews; and
Whereas, it is vital that these brothers and sisters win this struggle and demonstrate to the W&LE – and the other rail carriers as well – that union labor will not accept train operations with a single employee; and
Whereas, the outcome of this struggle of these brothers and sisters will have a direct impact on engineers and trainmen and all railroad workers throughout North America; their fight is our fight!
Therefore be it Resolved that the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) assembled at Convention, October 2, 2014 in Las Vegas, NV, pledge our unwavering solidarity and assistance to the members of Division #292 to win this fight; and
Be it Further Resolved, that the union encourages all BLET members and all railroad workers – especially those in geographical proximity – to join the picket line, to bring material aid and assistance and otherwise support the workers on the W&LE as necessary in the coming months and years in order to ensure victory.