From: ndallen@r-node.gts.org (Nigel Allen)
Subject: Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Telegram to Vice President-Elect
Organization: Echo Beach, Toronto
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 23:27:58 GMT

Here is a press release from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Telegram to Vice President-Elect
 To: National and Business desks, Labor Writer
 Contact: Stephen W. FitzGerald of Brotherhood of Locomotive
          Engineers,  216-241-2630 ext. 251, or 216-241-2639
          (after 4:30 p.m. EST)

   CLEVELAND, Nov. 10  -- The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers 
believes that environmental protection, high-speed passenger rail, 
commuter lines and freight rail service share untapped synergies. 
Today, the BLE, which is internationally based in Cleveland, 
released a telegram it sent to Vice President-elect Gore:

   Dear Vice President-elect Albert Gore Jr.:

   On behalf of the men and women represented by the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers and in respect to the hundreds of thousands of
others employed on our nation's railroads, I extend my heartfelt
congratulations to you.
   Your vice-presidential election victory is very gratifying to
the BLE because this was the first time in the BLE's 129-year
history that it officially endorsed, then vigorously promoted and
financially supported a White House ticket.  I am proud to say it
happened under my stewardship.
   You have spoken of better ways to conserve and protect our
natural resources, such as a serious look at our nation's
under-used rail system as an alternative to the energy
inefficiencies and environmental damage of other transport modes.
As you know, trains are three times more fuel efficient than
trucks.
   You have asked us to challenge the thinking of the past which
sees the protection of our environment as a threat to our nation's
economy.  Protecting and reclaiming our environment is America's
next great economic opportunity; the Japanese have been quick to
recognize this truth.
   In you, we also have a vice president who believes that people
who work by the rules and negotiate according to our nation's labor
laws should be treated with fairness and respect.  We railroad
employees know it is impossible to separate our job safety, wages
and health care -- outcomes of the traditional collective
bargaining process -- from the political and legislative processes.
   You and Bill Clinton have promised to put balance back into
collective bargaining by making workplace fairness legislation law.
As a result, employees will no longer be intimidated by threats
that they will be permanently replaced if they exercise their legal
rights.  I am convinced that a law banning the permanent
replacement of striking employees will lead to many more bargained
agreements, much more quickly.  I am convinced it will guarantee
fewer union strikes and management lockouts.
   Your call to eliminate federal incentives for American
industries to move jobs overseas is common sense that has been
lacking in the White House.  As a government, we must invest in job
creation, not job exportation!
   Again, congratulations to you and your family.  The members and
families of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers are proud to
have responded to the Clinton-Gore challenge for change and to your
agenda which puts people first while growing our economy.

   Respectfully,

   Ronald P. McLaughlin
   International President
 -30-

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