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At Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers' Seventh Quinquennial International Convention in Miami, delegates Sept. 27 brought change to the union's top post.

In a run-off election, International Vice President Don Hahs easily defeated incumbent International President Edward Dubroski 417-211 for the office of international president.

International vice president for five years, Hahs plans to try to smooth BLE's contentious relationship with United Transportation Union — and possibly get the unions' proposed merger back on track — as well as obtain a fair and equitable national contract, and improve BLE's financial status.

"We must demonstrate that we can serve the collective memberships of both organizations better by working together," said Hahs in a prepared statement, referring to UTU. "We have to find a common ground and stop wasting the memberships' money."

However, Hahs also promised to protect the BLE's right to exist, claiming "if we have to fight, I will personally be on the Kansas City Southern with every other ID officer and we will fight to win."

UTU Sept. 18 asked the National Mediation Board (NMB) to order a representation election on KCS, enabling the railroad's train and engine service employees to decide whether to be represented by UTU or BLE.