Little, Boyd win re-election
Thompson elected GS&T; 9 vice presidents re-elected;
5 new VPs elected; 3 VPs retire

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. -- By an overwhelming landslide, Charles L. Little was re-elected International President of the United Transportation Union on August 23 at the 8th Quadrennial UTU Convention at the Fontainebleau Hilton Hotel.

Rejoining the 63-year-old Little is Assistant President Byron A. Boyd, Jr., 53, who was re-elected by acclamation.

Paul C. Thompson was elected by acclamation to his first term as General Secretary and Treasurer. Roger D. Griffeth resigned his position as General Secretary and Treasurer, effective September 1.

More than 2,500 persons, including 654 delegates from the United States and Canada, attended the convention. The total attendance at the three Regional Meetings and Convention was more than 5,500 persons.

Little received 83% of the vote with 536 out of 645 total votes. His opponent, Griffeth, had 17% with 109 votes. There were eight votes that were declared invalid.

"I want to thank the delegates and all UTU members who have elected me to serve another four-year term," said Little. "This is a resounding endorsement of our efforts to reinvigorate the UTU and unite the historic rail operating crafts under one union. Now, it's on to winning our case at the National Mediation Board, and then winning a representation vote on the Union Pacific Railroad."

Said Boyd: "I am honored that the delegates have re-elected Charlie Little and me to lead the UTU over the next four years. The UTU has never been more unified behind its leaders and in its mission to unify the historic rail operating crafts. The delegates at this convention have sent a loud and clear message to the BLE that we have the will and the passion to win."

ELECTED BY ACCLAMATION
Also re-elected by acclamation were National Legislative Director James Brunkenhoefer and Canadian Legislative Director Tim Secord.

James A. Stem was elected Alternate National Legislative Director, and Dennis Tennant was elected Alternate Canadian Legislative Director.

NEW COMMUTER VP
The union's delegates voted to create a new vice president position for rail commuter service to serve its expanding rail commuter membership, whose numbers now total more than 10,000 individuals.

To represent commuter service members, the delegates elected as vice president Tony Iannone, secretary of Amtrak General Committee GO-769 for conductors and yardmen. Mike Canino was elected Alternate Vice President ­ Commuter Rail Service.

OFFICERS RETIRE
Four veteran International officers announced their retirements. Retiring are Vice Presidents Al Smith, Larry Davis, and Robert Earley. Also retiring is Ed Carney, a member of the Board of Appeals.

VICE PRESIDENTS ELECTED
The delegates elected five new vice presidents and re-elected nine incumbents.

Re-elected are International Vice Presidents Dan E. Johnson, Pete Patsouras, Kim Thompson, Bernie McNelis (Bus), 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.

OTHER OFFICERS ELECTED
Elected Assistant to the President ­ Yardmasters was Don Carver. Elected to serve alongside Carver as Alternate Assistant President ­ Yardmasters was Jerry Martin.

Elected to the positions of First Alternate Vice Presidents were Steve Thompson (East), Artie Martin (West), and J. L. Batton (South).

Elected Alternate Vice Presidents were Robert Sharpe (Canada), Percy Palmer (Bus, West), Carolyn Scarsella (Bus, East), and Mike Canino (Commuter Rail).

Elected to the positions of Second Alternate Vice Presidents were D. J. Schuler (East), John Babler (West), and John Hancock (South).

MORE OFFICER ELECTIONS
Elected to the U.S. Board of Appeals were W.J. Shelton, J.E. Fitzgerald, G.D. Welch, Dirk Sampson, and J.T. Harford.

Elected to the Board of Appeals­Canada were B.L. McLafferty, B. M. Gleason and E. F. Seagris.

Persons elected to the Executive Board are J.A. Houston, J.J. Risch, S.T. Dawson, Karen L. Belcher, and C.M. Good. Joseph A. Boda, Jr., was elected to the office of Alternate to the Executive Board.

CONSTITUTION CHANGES
In addition to authorizing a new commuter rail vice president and a dues increase, the delegates also:

-- Amended Article 23, Line 15, so that members of the UTU Board of Directors "will vote on all decisions and actions taken by the Board and will not be allowed to abstain from the voting, except as stated herein above concerning his/her actions or decisions. The Annual Report shall show how each member of the Board of Directors voted on all appeals brought pursuant to Article 75 II immediately following the decision."

-- Reaffirmed that the official languages of the UTU in Canada are English and French."

-- Amended Article 22 concerning the Board of Trustees to state that "The International President, General Secretary and Treasurer, and the Senior Canadian Vice President shall comprise the members of the Board of Trustees. The International President shall serve as Chairperson; the Senior Canadian Vice President shall serve as Vice Chairperson and the General Secretary and Treasurer shall serve as Secretary."

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