BLE hires defeated Monin
Former Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) President Clarence Monin, in a highly curious move, has been hired by new BLE President Ed Dubroski as a high-priced consultant.

Monin lost a recall vote to Dubroski by only 37 votes, and BLE sources said another recall vote was being planned against Dubroski and General Secretary and Treasurer Russell W. Bennett.

Only about half of the BLE's membership bothered to vote in the recall, and Dubroski received barely more than 25% of the vote of the BLE's active membership.

There's no word yet on whether Monin's rich, long-term consulting contract has ended the movement for another recall election.

UTU members give days to BLE brother in need
\Members of the UTU and Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) are joining together to aid one of their own.

Some 150 members of UTU Locals 1402, Dupo, Ill., and 1823 in St. Louis, Mo., along with their brothers and sisters in the local division of the BLE, since January, have contributed more than 200 personal leave days to BLE member A.V. Kingsbury so he can spend more time with his wife, who is fighting cancer and may have only a few months to live.

John Lowe, Jr., president of Local 1402, said some members have donated as many as five days to Kingsbury.

Kingsbury, a father and "a very good engineer," really appreciates what his fellow UTU and BLE members are doing for him, Lowe said.

Conductor killed
Ronnie L. Taylor II, a UTU-represented conductor on the Kansas City Southern, was killed last month when his loaded coal train ran into another train in southwestern Arkansas.

Taylor, 26, of Local 770 in Heavener, Okla., was found beneath piles of coal five hours after the incident.

A KCS spokesman said Taylor jumped out of the locomotive before it crashed, but derailed cars landed on top of him.

The engineer with Taylor suffered a broken arm.

Regional Meeting dates
The dates and locations have been set for next year's UTU/UTUIA Regional Meetings. The three meetings will be held:

-- June 12-14 in Reno, Nevada;
-- July 10-12 in Birmingham, Ala.;
-- August 28-30 in Minneapolis, Minn.

Watch the UTU NEWS for more information.

Monthly winner
This month's lucky winner of his choice of any item of apparel bearing the UTU logo is Gary D. Matlock of Bixby, Okla.

Brother Matlock is a member of Local 507 in Van Buren, Ark., which represents workers employed by the Union Pacific Railroad.

These items are awarded every month by random drawing as a show of appreciation to the many members who have supported the UTU throughout the years. Congratulations to Brother Matlock!