The delegation of the 6th Quadrennial National Division Convention today re-elected BMWED-IBT President Tony D. Cardwell, Secretary-Treasurer Dale E. Bogart Jr. and four National Division vice presidents to new four-year terms at the helm of our great Brotherhood.

Burlington Northern System Federation General Chairman John Mozinski Jr. was elected for the first time as Vice President, replacing the retiring Northwest Region Vice President, Staci Moody-Gilbert.

In a strong statement of steadfast support and confidence, the delegation reaffirmed the direction of our Union by electing the entire slate of National Division officers by acclamation, the first time in decades the membership has placed such uniform trust in its leadership.

“I want to thank all the delegates and the members who have entrusted their confidence and support in our National Division officers,” President Cardwell said. “You can be assured that we will continue to fight and win and deliver on our mission of putting the membership first.”

Along with President Cardwell and Secretary-Treasurer Bogart, the other National Division Vice Presidents re-elected to four-year terms are:

Jeff Fry, Vice President At-Large

John Mozinski Jr., Vice President Northwest

Galen Owen, Vice President West

Reese Saulter III, Vice President South

Seán Gerie, Vice President Northeast

Additionally, the entirety of the National Division Executive Board was re-elected to new terms. They are:

Brian Rumler, At-Large

George Loveland, At-Large

Joe Letizia, Northwest

Thomas Blackwell, West

Patrick Quigley, South

Anthony Sessa, Northeast

Building on the administration’s wins and results over the last four years and continuing to strengthen a Brotherhood that grows fiercer and more formidable every day is the overarching objective this slate of officers will carry forward into the upcoming fights on the horizon. The trust imposed on these officers today by the delegation carrying the weight of our membership is cherished and taken with upmost sincerity and determination.

The convention’s second day also saw a litany of guest speakers, including a visit from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, who reminded the maintenance of way members that they “will always have a seat at my table.”

“I will ensure the massive tech changes in your industry don’t leave workers behind,” Governor Pritzker said. “I don’t want to hand over the focus of safety to new tech. Innovation should strengthen the workforce, not replace it.”

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, Republican from Missouri, sent in his support with a video message since he regretfully could not attend in person. In his message, he reiterated his support for organized railroaders and the BMWED, and pledged his support for bills in Congress, including the Railway Safety Act and the Faster Labor Contracts Act, which would accelerate the negotiation process for an initial collective bargaining agreement after a new union is certified.

“We must continue to remind these corporate CEOs that there is a right and a wrong,” Senator Hawley said. “It is absolutely your right to be paid what you deserve, and it is wrong that these corporations fight you on your worth. These companies have lost their moral compass.”

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen President Mark Wallace also spoke to the assembled delegation. President Wallace highlighted the renewed cooperation and solidarity between or two Unions and how our collective strength as empowered the Teamsters Rail Conference, in which the BLET and BMWED comprise.

“Every engineer in America depends on the work of every brother and sister in this room and I thank you for your hard work everyday building, maintaining and repairing the track on which we ride,” President Wallace said. “There is no better advocate against automated track inspection than a locomotive engineer. Every single time you replace a track inspector with a computer, my members’ lives are at risk.”

“Over the last several years, our relationship in the Teamsters Rail Conference has never been stronger and that has resulted in us leading in Washington, D.C.,” President Wallace added.

Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen President Mike Baldwin also spoke, reiterating the sentiments of stronger solidarity and collective strength of our two Unions.

“Solidarity is not just something to talk about, it is something to act on,” President Baldwin said. “Everyday, on every property, in every bargaining round and in every fight, we must and we will work together in collective unity.”

The delegation will return to the convention hall tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. to wrap up the work of the BMWED National Division Convention. Stay tuned here for continued coverage as we move into the third and final day of our Union’s collective and vital work.