The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers is the senior national labor organization in the United States; it is also North America’s oldest rail labor union. The BLE marked its 135th anniversary in 1998 and was founded in Marshall, Mich. on May 8, 1863, as The Brotherhood of the Footboard; a year later, its name was changed to the present. The BLE’s motto is: “Since 1863, A Tradition of Forward Thinking.”

PURPOSE: “To combine the interests of locomotive engineers or other persons in railway service… (to) elevate their social, moral and intellectual standing, guard their financial interests, and promote their general welfare and safety; its cardinal principles — sobriety, truth, justice and morality.” — from the Preamble of the BLE Constitution, revised 1996.

MEMBERSHIP: After accepting only promoted locomotive engineers in its early years, the BLE enlarged its membership goals to include other rail employees. Active members number 35,000 in the U.S. and Canada. The BLE’s total membership is more than 59,000 and growing, in spite of industry consolidation. Since Jan. 1, 1992, engineers must be trained and tested to be federally certified and licensed to operate trains.

AFFILIATIONS: In 1993, the 2,500-member American Train Dispatchers Association affiliated with the BLE, officially becoming the American Train Dispatchers Department of the BLE. Locomotive Engineers and Train Dispatchers are the key operational employees required for the efficient and safe movement of passengers and freight by rail. The BLE is an affiliate member of the AFL-CIO and the Canada Labour Congress, and active in several rail industry-specific groups. In 1995, the Rail Canada Traffic Controllers union also chose to merge into the BLE, adding another 700 members.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE: Local units of the BLE are known as Divisions. Each Division elects four primary local officers — President, Local Chairman, Secretary-Treasurer and Legislative Representative — each serving three-year terms. The BLE is comprised of more than 600 Divisions.

All the local chairmen on a particular railroad constitute the BLE General Committee of Adjustment on that system; this General Committee is autonomous and responsible for negotiating, making, interpreting and enforcing contracts between engineers and their railroad. Larger railroad systems may have more than one General Committee and General Chairman.

All the legislative representatives for divisions within a state or province comprise the State or Provincial Legislative Board. These legislative boards are responsible for educating legislators, policy makers and the public about the impacts of regulations and laws on transportation and public safety.

At the International Office, officers include the International President, First Vice-President, General Secretary-Treasurer and nine “regional” vice-presidents, who assist and offer resources to General Committees. International officers are elected to five-year terms.

One U.S. vice-president serves as the BLE’s U.S. National Legislative Representative, administering the Washington D.C. office and coordinating federal activities of the BLE, and its various state legislative boards.

One Canadian vice-president serves as the Canadian Director and a second serves as Canadian National Legislative Representative. They administer the BLE Canadian Office in Ottawa, Ontario.

The BLE is governed by its Constitution & Bylaws. Policies are set and international officers elected at quinquennial conventions (every five years). Convention delegates are elected by local BLE Division members.

HEADQUARTER OFFICES: The BLE International Office is located at: Standard Building, 1370 Ontario St., Mezzanine, Cleveland, OH 44113-1702 (built and owned by the BLE). The Canadian Office is in Ottawa and the U.S. National Legislative Office is in Washington D.C.

For more information, contact the BLE Public Relations Department at the International Office by calling (216) 241-2630, ext. 248, from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., E.T. *

BLE Division 73 : We are one of several hundred subordinate divisions of BLE International. We are located in Birmingham, Alabama. Division 73 represents locomotive engineers and other rail employees on the AGS District of Norfolk Southern Railroad. Effective March 1, 2001 our regular monthly meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of each month at 10:30 a.m. at the Golden Rule BBQ, Crestwood Blvd., Irondale, Alabama. For further information regarding Division 73, please contact us: ble073@cs.com