[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 136 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 136
Recognizing the 140th anniversary of the founding of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers, and congratulating members and officers of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers for the union's many achievements.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 8, 2003
Mr. Daschle (for Mr. Kennedy) (for himself, Mr. Voinovich, and Mr.
DeWine) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
May 22, 2003
Reported by Mr. Hatch, without amendment
June 2, 2003
Considered, amended, and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the 140th anniversary of the founding of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers, and congratulating members and officers of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers for the union's many achievements.
Whereas the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers was founded on May 8, 1863, as a
secret, fraternal labor organization and its first meetings were held
clandestinely for fear of reprisals from railroad management;
Whereas the climate toward labor organizations at that time was extraordinarily
hostile, and many of the other newly founded labor organizations failed
to withstand the negative pressures placed upon them and disbanded in
their infancies;
Whereas the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers began to thrive despite the
climate into which it was born;
Whereas the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers has grown from its original 13
members, all from the Michigan Central Railroad, to 59,000 active and
retired members employed throughout the United States and Canada;
Whereas the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers is North America's oldest rail
labor union;
Whereas the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers' members have contributed, both
directly through their railroad activity and in private capacities, to
the war effort in all of the battles of the United States dating back to
the Civil War;
Whereas their efforts to improve rail safety for both their members and the
public have resulted in a dramatic decrease in the number of railroad
accidents in the years since their inception;
Whereas in 1964, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers launched an apprentice
engineer program to assure the Nation of a stable supply of well-trained
locomotive engineers, and to assure stable employment and earnings to
apprentices;
Whereas after accepting only promoted locomotive engineers in its early years,
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers enlarged its membership goals to
include other rail employees;
Whereas in 1993, the 2,500 member American Train Dispatchers Association
officially affiliated with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers in
order to unite the two key railway professions that facilitate the
efficient and safe movement of passengers and freight;
Whereas in 1995, the Rail Canada Traffic Controllers union also chose to merge
into the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, adding another 700
members;
Whereas, in addition to providing representation for its members, the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers aggressively participates in the
labor movement with other unions and organizations in promoting the
interests of working men and women and their families;
Whereas the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers is an extraordinary union whose
leadership still works hard every day--just as it did in 1863--to
protect members' health and safety, to guard their financial interests,
to give them an effective voice on the job, and to ensure dignity,
respect, and security for railway workers in the workplace; and
Whereas the efforts of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers are deserving of
our attention and admiration: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes that unions have made tremendous contributions to the
structural development and building of the United States, and to the
well-being of tens of thousands of workers;
(2) congratulates unions for their many achievements and the
strength of their members; and
(3) expects that unions will continue their dedicated work and will
have an even greater impact in the 21st century and beyond, and will
enhance the standard of living and working environment for rail workers
and other laborers in generations to come.
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