MIDLOTHIAN, Ill. -- A myriad of rail issues affected train and engine service employees was discussed March 14 at the sixth annual Tri State Rail Conference hosted by the Belt Railway of Chicago here in mid-March. The event drew some 125 participants.
Among presenters were UTU General Chairperson Chris Votteler (GO 065), who spoke on negotiating superior agreements for remote control operations. Votteler is credited with gaining a flow-back agreement for displaced enginemen on the Belt Railway of Chicago.
Also speaking were UTU International General Secretary and Treasurer Kim Thompson (UTU finances); International Vice President Robert Kerley (the CN acquisition of EJ&E, and the new UTU University); and Alternate International Vice President-East Delbert Strunk (the UTU-SMWIA merger, halted by a federal judge, and how it would have ended UTU's craft and general committee autonomy).
Also, Assistant Illinois State Legislative Director Robert Guy (rail safety legislation); DOL officer Phil Hanrahan (Family and Medical Leave Act issues); FRA employee Mike Long (rail safety issues); Railroad Retirement Board employee Ed Chochrek; United Health Care representative Charlene Payne; and UTUIA representatives Greg Hale and Aaron Combs.
UTU Local 1597 member Anthony Marchi was in charge of facilities and refreshments.
The Tri-State Rail Conference was initiated by UTU members Don Loresch and Alan Schoo, both of Local 1433. They cited UTU Local 1290 President Jeff Fields as being instrumental in making the sixth annual conference a success.
International General Secretary and Treasurer Kim Thompson, left, speaks with Tri-State Conference co-founders Don Loresch (delegate, Local 1433), center, and retired member Alan Schoo (former local president, Local 1433). Photo by Carl Gurnicz.
International General Secretary and Treasurer Kim Thompson meets with Tri-State executive board member Rich Ross (Local 1973) and Alternate International Vice President - East Delbert Strunk. Photo by Carl Gurnicz.
