The
governor of Illinois, Pat
Quinn, has signed a proclamation
declaring May 8, 2013, as "Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Day"
throughout Illinois in honor of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen’s (BLET) 150th anniversary. Governor Quinn joined three additional state governments (California, Massachusetts and Ohio) and two cities (Detroit and Marshall, Mich.) in recognizing North America’s oldest railroad labor union.
Begun 150 years ago in Detroit, the union has steadfastly defended the rights of its members – working men and women – who were an integral part of creating America’s transportation network and building our economy.
Today, on the more than 200,000 miles of rail which crisscross our nation, members of the BLET are responsible for transporting goods and passengers safely to their destinations. Whether it is from an urban center such as Chicago or out to the hills of California, these dedicated union members perform their jobs safely and with dignity.
