BLE Board split, provokes UTU to reactivate NMB petition

UTU intentionally provoked by BLE to reactivate NMB petition

"Brotherhood nearly paralyzed by Advisory Board split": Dubroski

ST. LOUIS (June 14) -- A "civil war" inside the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) has prompted its president to intentionally "provoke" the United Transportation Union (UTU) into reactivating its National Mediation Board (NMB) petition, transportation workers attending a UTU Regional Meeting were told this morning.

In his State of the Union speech, UTU International President Charles L. Little told the 1,000 UTU members at the Regal Riverfront Hotel here that the BLE itself has confirmed it was internal politics and deception that scuttled unification.

"The BLE is engaged in a civil war," said Little. "It is a house divided, and it will not stand. The UTU is a house unified. We will stand and prevail."

Little reported to union members about the contents of a letter written by BLE First Vice President Ed Dubroski. Dubroski, who is facing off against BLE President Clarence Monin in a recall election, said that Monin "provoked the UTU into going back to the NMB" to save his job.

The letter Little quoted said: "President Monin has proved to me (Dubroski) that he is willing to risk all in his effort to keep his position, even if it means putting the members of the BLE as a whole at risk, as he has done by provoking the UTU into going back to the NMB."

Dubroski's letter also said, "President Monin has gravely deceived and misled all of your International officers about many things. By deceiving and misleading us, President Monin has deceived and misled you. President Monin has abused his power on a scale that I have not seen in my almost 40 years of union service...."

"Our constitutional process has broken down, and our Brotherhood is nearly paralyzed, not because of the Statement of Principles (with the UTU), but because of the manipulation of information and officers by our International President. Our Advisory Board is split down the middle. President Monin has proven himself unworthy of the trust of the members and officers of this organization, and we cannot begin to put our house in order while he remains in office."

Little pointed out that the BLE can't even manage its internal affairs and is incapable of representing North America's operating rail employees at this critical time in rail labor history.

"They say they are trying to save a craft," said Little. "Well, we are trying to save jobs in every craft. They are your jobs. The BLE doesn't care about your job. Just ask the conductors at VIA Rail, Montana Rail Link, and more. Their officers are fighting to save their own skins."