Fleming and LaRue Elected to Third Terms

BMWE's 43rd Grand Lodge Convention opened with a flourish on Monday morning, July 13, 1998, as bagpipes were played during the Presentation of Colors and the delegates stood to pay tribute to the flags of the United States and Canada.

After the invocation by Matti Terho, Concordia University Chaplain, Canadian Vice President Gary Housch, Temporary Chairman, introduced the mayor of Montreal, Pierre Bourque, who welcomed all to Montreal, Natalie Frey, the Parliamentarian and the Grand Lodge Officers.

In his brief opening remarks, Housch noted that the "wonderful city of Montreal ... is very much the cradle of this Brotherhood. ... On June 17, 1901 ... probably the most historic strike in our history commenced in Montreal. Ten thousand miles of track was struck by our forefathers, who against all odds held solidarity for 75 very long days against the Canadian Pacific Railway. This battle of classes by a young, but dynamic, organization, and against all odds, led to the very first contract ever penned by this union and a railway. We must remember their accomplishment and struggle," Housch said, "during our deliberations this week with great pride, knowing we are charting a course for our future, much like they did."

Next on the agenda was the State of the Union address by President Mac A. Fleming followed by Secretary-Treasurer William E. LaRue who gave an address on the State of the Union. Next was very special guest Richard Trumka, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer, a dynamic speaker who gave a thrilling speech which was punctuated throughout by standing ovations and applause. Excerpts from all three addresses can be found inside this JOURNAL.

After the speeches, President Fleming called upon Hayward Granier, Chairman of the Credentials Committee, to certify that a constitutional quorum was present. Granier reported that as of 9:00 a.m. that morning, 506 delegates were registered, and more than 50 being in the hall, the constitutional quorum was met. That being so, President Fleming called on David McCracken, Chairman of the Rules Committee, to give the committee's report on the rules for the Covnention. After discussion, the rules and the convention program as printed were adopted.

The afternoon session opened with brief remarks by President Fleming followed by Secretary-Treasurer LaRue's Financial Report, the Grand Lodge Executive Board Report given by Secretary Bruce Glover, and the Report of the Jurisdiction Committee given by Chairman Roger Bobby. Glover spoke on the loss of Executive Board Member John J. Davison during the time since the last Covention and asked the delegation to rise for a moment of silence in his memory.

After these necessary preliminaries, the work of the delegates -- setting the BMWE's course into the next millennium -- began with the discussion of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee Report to amend the Constitution and Bylaws. The committee had previously convened at Grand Lodge Headquarters and considered over 80 proposals, submitted by members, lodges, systems and Grand Lodge.

During the next four days the delegates and the committee debated the report reccommendations as well as proposals from the floor. They also considered the Resolutions Committee Report and resolutions made from the floor. Key policy decisions made by the delegation can be found inside this JOURNAL, including the rejection of a dues increase by a roll call vote.

Tuesday morning's session opened with a talk by Michelle King of Union Privilege Benefit Programs who also presented a Union Plus scholarship to Andrea Bushman, daughter of BMWE member Kent Bushman. King was followed by the presentation of Maintenance of Way Political League Awards.

At 10:00 a.m., in accordance with the rules adopted, the election of officers was the special order of business. Nominations and elections continued into the afternoon. While votes were being counted in several elections, the delegates resumed consideration of amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws.

President Mac A. Fleming and Secretary-Treasurer William E. LaRue were each elected by acclamation to a third consecutive term in office. The results of the elections for the remaining 13--seven vice presidents and six executive board members--Grand Lodge officers can be found inside this JOURNAL.

Also on this day an important arbitration award was released and reported on by Steven V. Powers, Director of Arbitration: "What we have is another important victory in our ongoing fight to protect the important benefits that we won in the 1996 National Agreement. As most of you know, the carrier began welshing on that deal no sooner than the ink was dry, and one of the most serious attacks was on the Article XIV travel allowance benefits. ...

"We carefully orchestrated a plan tha include strike threats, it included litigation, it included claims, and ultimately court-ordered arbitration. And the first case that went to arbitration after the court order was on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe, ... and I am pleased to announce that as of this morning, we know that we won that case. ... Now, while this was a BNSF award, it was written in broad language on the national rules, on Article XIV and Award 298, so we think that this should settle the cases on all the 298 railroads.

"We really had a strong team put together ... there were a lot of people that worked on this, including all of the BNSF system officers who fed me information for the case. We had Vice President Ernie Torske, Joel Myron and Don Griffin helping with the strategy on the case. President Fleming personally came down to the arbitration to lend the prestige of his office to our case, and in the end, we won. ... So it shows that if we have a plan, stick to it and keep at it for the long term, we can prevail on these issues."

Thursday's order of business was the BMWE's second Solidarity Education Day, the first being conducted at the 1994 Grand Lodge Convention. Six broad issues were discussed in morning workshops where the delegates explored ideas and strategies for confronting these difficult issues on the job, within the community, in our nation and globally. In the afternoon, the workshops reported back to the group as a whole. Also in the afternoon, a panel comprised of Rail Labor leaders fielded questions and provided thoughts and ideas about the future of Rail Labor. More about Solidarity Education Day can be found inside this JOURNAL.

On Friday the delegates completed their consideration of all committee reports, paid tribute to the brothers and sisters who passed away since the last convention and who have been killed on the job, and installed their Grand Lodge Officers for a new four-year term beginning September 1, 1998. At 12:45 p.m., Friday, July 17, 1998, the Forty-third Regular Convention of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes adjourned sine die.