Western Railroad Discussion > BLE vs. UTU

Can someone tell me the history of these two organizations? Was Santa Fe and Burlington Northern (and UP and SP) represented by two different unions prior to their merger? I have been finding some cities being represented by one, and others by another.

Oh, since this involves unions, flame away.

Hehe, ok my point of veiw is that a union is as good as the people in it, so depending on the "leadership" of said union in a particular city or "lodge" would explain why one is "better" than the other. So for one aspect it could be the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers or the United Transportation Union UTU.

All the railroads you mentioned, BN, ATSF, UP and SP each had employees represented by both unions (and other unions as well). Historically the two unions have coexisted, with the BLE (Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers) representing engineers and the UTU (United Transportation Union) representing other crafts (specifically conductors and brakemen and more recently, other crafts). UTU has grown and consolidated, and in some cases now represents engineers as well. That's the seed of the problem from the BLE's perspective. UTU has more members, and BLE has fiercely resisted UTU's attempts to "merge," fearing a dilution of their craft.

The crafts really have consolidated over the years from pipefitters, machinists, boilermakers, dispatchers, operators, engineers, firemen, railway clerks, RPO clerks, etc into big unions (BLE, UTU, MofW).

I wonder what some of the old time (1880-1920s) railway organizers who later got their heads beaten trying to get the mass unions (UAW, UMW, Steel, Rubber, etc) started would think of today's situation? I think they'd be pleased most railway people today earn a solid middle class wage with good benefits. I think they'd be unhappy at the lack of cross organizing (Wal-Mart, Tyson, high tech, some health care, etc) by many of today's unions.

Most of all, they'd be familiar with managements that fight every effort to get a good day's pay for a good day's work, that resist efforts to resolve limbo time and rest/fatigue issues, while cutting extra boards and bench strength. I'd think they'd recognize most of that...

My dad had 50 years of engine service with Santa Fe before retirement. He was a dedicated BLE member "and don't you ever forget it". After college I went to work for Santa Fe in Topeka and was in a management position. I will never forget when the clerks when on strike in Topeka, and I had to cross the picket line and enter the building escorted by railroad cops carrying shotguns. I was castigated by a union rep after that telling me I had shamed my father and his brotherhood activites by crossing that line.

After that happened, Dad and I never discussed unions again. It was a truce that lasted until his death in 1982. I left Santa Fe in 1970 for other pursuits, and the word "union" left my lexicon. By the way, I wasn't against them, certainly being raised in a union family, I saw the benefits. It just became a non-subject after I crossed the picket line (since I was management, I was expected to.

Those were the days.

No flames please...

In 1974, "Lefty" Morgan and many of the other
engineers on BC Rail got tired of being ignored
by the BLE in Cleveland (BLE Div.105, Williams
Lake B.C.) and voted to start their own union
, CUTE (Canadian Union of Transportation Employees).

Since that time, the BLE has tried several times to
get the representation back, but CUTE holds on.

In 1980, CUTE took over from the BMWE (Brotherhood
of Maintenance of Way Employees)also.

Alas, the CUTE leadership of the track workers
was not as good as that of the engineers.

A former UTU general chair became an organizer
for the IWA (Industrial Woodworkers of America),
and won a representation election on BCR for
the section people.

Can 135 member CUTE 1 survive without the
450 member CUTE 6 which joined the IWA?.
Time will tell.

CUTE started as a democratic rail union in the
sense that the American Rail Union was in the
19th Century. After a while, it became much
less radical, but still is outside the AFL-CIO-
CLC because it raided the BLE and BMWE.

E.GRISE

Now, that was a CUTE story!

Bob L

>>UTU has grown and consolidated, and in some cases now represents engineers as well. That's the seed of the problem from the BLE's perspective. UTU has more members, and BLE has fiercely resisted UTU's attempts to "merge," fearing a dilution of their craft.<<

The BLE does an is accepting conuctors/brakeman and switchman into there union for the past year. All do to the unsuccessful takover attempt of the UTU. The UTU is also not affiliated with the AFL/CIO anymore because of its actions last year against the BLE.

Engineers in the UTU-E work under BLE bargained contracts. Conductors in the BLE work under the UTU bargained contracts. All is one big mess.

The BLE fiercely resists take over because of an approximate 11 million dollar dept, part of which was to buy UTU1 employee membership bus for $600,000.00. And I believe a 10 million dollar law suit, all funds were taken out of the unemployeement fund.