BLET, BMWED officials elected to Rail Conference leadership

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division (BMWED) officials were elected yesterday to lead the Teamsters Rail Conference.

During the conference’s fifth quadrennial convention in Chicago, BLET National President Dennis Pierce was re-elected by acclamation to his fourth term as Rail Conference president, according to a BLET press release.

As Rail Conference president, Pierce is the principal officer of the group and is responsible for conducting its day-to-day affairs. He also presides over meetings of the Rail Conference Policy Committee and all meetings of the conference.

BLET National Vice President Mark Wallace was elected to his first term of office as VP of the Rail Conference, while BMWED National Division Secretary-Treasurer David Joynt was re-elected by acclamation to his second term as Rail Conference secretary-treasurer.

Teamsters General President James Hoffa and Teamster International VP and Rail Conference Director John Murphy were both in attendance and addressed the assembled delegates. Murphy announced that he will be stepping down after more than 17 years of service as Rail Conference director.

The Rail Conference represents more than 70,000 rail employees in the United States who work as locomotive engineers, trainmen and maintenance of way workers on the five major freight railroads, Amtrak and numerous commuter rail systems and short lines.