UTU creates new commuter department

UTU creates new Commuter Department
Delegates create new slot for Commuter VP
Nine VPs re-elected, three retire, five new ones elected

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (August 25) - For the first time, the United Transportation Union has created a new department to support its expanding commuter rail membership.

That was one of the many highlights of the second day of the UTU's 8th Quadrennial International Convention. On Monday, UTU International President Charles L. Little and Assistant Byron A. Boyd were convincingly re-elected. Also elected to his first term as General Secretary & Treasurer was Paul C.Thompson.

On Tuesday, three veteran International Vice Presidents announced their retirement, five new ones were elected, and nine incumbent vice presidents were re-elected.

Retiring are Al Smith, Larry Davis, and Robert Earley. All three are veteran vice presidents who were given rousing ovations of respect from the 654 delegates and hundreds more attending the convention.

Re-elected are International Vice Presidents Dan E. Johnson, Pete Patsouras, Kim Thompson, Bernie McNelis, Bruce Wigent, Rick Marceau, Mike Futhey, and Canadian Vice Presidents J.W. Armstrong and Guy Scarrow.

Newly elected Vice Presidents are Carl Vahldick, David Hakey, Roy Boling, Patrick Drennan and Tony Iannone, who was elected the first Commuter Vice President in UTU history. Earlier in the day, the delegates voted to create a new vice presidency to help better represent the more than 10,000 commuter members the UTU represents.

Also on Monday, James Brunkenhoefer was re-elected National Legislative Director, and Tim Secord was re-elected Canadian Legislative Director.

Today, the delegates will continue with the election of other International officers, as well as other business.

More than 2,500 UTU members, families and union friends are attending this convention at the Fontainebleau Hilton in Miami Beach, Fla. The total attendance at the UTU's three Regional Meetings and convention is more than 5,500 persons.