Local Chairman Tony Belscamper found the attached information while researching laws protecting workers from excessive heat. The attachments (links) are guidance for heat related issues which are very informative. Frats for Now! Mark Whitchurch, VGC & Sec/Treas
Excessive Heat Events Guidebook
Heat Illness Prevention - Guidance for Workers
OSHA - Protect Yourself from Heat
May 30 - Letter sent to Local Division Secretary/Treasurers and emailed to Local Chairmen:
To: All Local
Division Sec/Treas
CC: All Local Division LC
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Our General
Committee of Adjustment will have a $6.00 dues increase effective with the
August dues. This increase was presented to, and voted on, by the delegates in
session when Our General Committee of Adjustment convened on May 20 and 21,
2008. BLE-T National Division bylaws would not allow us to implement the dues
increase until the August dues period. It is the
responsibility of the Local Division Secretary/Treasurer to notify the payroll
department of their respective Carrier in respect to any changes in the amount
deducted for dues purposes. You will need to contact the payroll department of
this change. If your Local Division would like for me
to assist with this, do not hesitate to contact me. I will then contact the
Carrier’s payroll department prior to the deduction period for August dues to
assure the proper amount(s) will be deducted. Our General Committee appreciates
the very good work that you have performed while in office as
Secretary/Treasurer of your Local Division.
Fraternally Yours,
Mark D. Whitchurch, 1st VGC & Sec/Treas
BLE-T/GCA-CN/IC
May 20 — General Chairman John R. Koonce was reelected
by acclamation at the quadrennial session of the Canadian National-Illinois
Central (CN-IC) Central General Committee of Adjustment in Tunica, Miss.
Brother Koonce is a member of BLET Division 512 (Belleville, Ill.) and has been
a member of the Brotherhood since July 1, 1974. This is his third time winning
reelection to the General Chairman position since he assumed that office on July
1, 1996.
Other officers elected were: Mark Whitchurch, 1st Vice General Chairman and GCA
Secretary-Treasurer (Division 24, Centralia, Ill.); Clay Craddock, 2nd Vice
Chairman (Division 762, Memphis, Tenn.); Billy Evans, 3rd Vice Chairman
(Division 203, Jackson, Miss.); and Charlie Lough, 4th Vice Chairman and
Alternate GCA S-T (Division 131, Chicago).
Alternate officers elected were: Gary Reno, 1st Alternate Vice Chairman
(Division 577, Mattoon, Ill.); Mike Walters, 2nd Alternate Vice Chairman
(Division 512, Belleville, Ill.); Steve Lott, 3rd Alternate Vice Chairman
(Division 326, Bossier City, La.) and Billy Scarbrough, 4th Alternate Vice
Chairman (Division 450, Columbus, Miss.).
The General Committee represents about 615 members in 21 divisions from eight
different states (Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi,
Alabama and Louisiana). The GCofA also represents multiple railroads, including
CN properties (Illinois Central, Chicago Central & Pacific, Cedar River
Railway), Kansas City Southern properties (MidSouth Rail Corp., SouthRail Corp,
Gateway & Western), and the IC Electric Division of Metra in Chicago. BLET
National Vice Presidents Richard K. Radek and Merle W. Geiger Jr. were in
attendance to represent the National Division. VP Radek is assigned to the
General Committee’s CN-IC properties while VP Geiger is assigned to the KCS
properties.
Retired First Vice President Jim McCoy, a former Illinois Central General
Chairman, also attended the meeting. Brother McCoy was an International Vice
President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers from 1996 to 1999, and
served as First Vice President — the union’s second highest office — from
1999 until his retirement in 2001. Koonce assumed General Chairman duties in
1996 when McCoy won election to Vice President. Koonce reported that in addition
to Brother McCoy, several other retired Local Chairmen and members attended the
General Committee meeting.
In addition to the election of officers, the delegates handled on-property
business during closed meetings.
