[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.
                                 <all>