IV 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 226

Recognizing the 140th anniversary of the founding of the Brotherhood of 

Locomotive Engineers, and congratulating the members and officers of 

the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers for the union’s many achievements. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 8, 2003

Mr. KUCINICH submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

RESOLUTION

Recognizing the 140th anniversary of the founding of the 

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and congratulating the members and officers of the Brotherhood of 

Locomotive Engineers for the union’s many achievements.

Whereas the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers is the oldest rail union in North America; 

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 towards labor organizations at that time 

was extraordinarily hostile and many of the other organi-
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zations founded contemporaneously failed to withstand 

the negative pressures placed upon them and they subsequently disbanded in their infancies; 

Whereas the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers began to 

thrive despite the climate into which it was formed; 

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 located throughout the United States and Canada; 

Whereas the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers’ members 

have contributed, both directly through their railroad activity and in their private capacities, to the war effort in 

all of the wars of the United States dating back to the 

Civil War; 

Whereas the efforts of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers 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 the 

union’s inception; 

Whereas, although it accepted for membership only locomotive engineers in its early years, the Brotherhood of 

Locomotive Engineers enlarged its membership ranks to 

include other rail employees; 

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, in 1993, the 2,500 member American Train Dispatchers Association officially merged with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers in order to unite the two 
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key railway professions so as to better facilitate the efficient and safe movement of passengers and freight; 

Whereas, in 1995, the Rail Canada Traffic Controllers union 

also chose to merge with the Brotherhood of Locomotive 

Engineers, increasing the union’s membership by 700; 

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 to promote the interests of 

working men and women and their families; 

Whereas the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers is an extraordinary union whose leadership continues to work 

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

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

2 (1) recognizes the 140th anniversary of the 

3 founding of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engi4 neers; 

5 (2) congratulates the Brotherhood of Loco6 motive Engineers for its many achievements and the 

7 strength of its membership; 

8 (3) recognizes the tremendous contributions 

9 made by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers 
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1 to the structural development and building of the 

2 United States and for the many improvements in the 

3 well–being of tens of thousands of workers; and 

4 (4) expects that the Brotherhood of Locomotive 

5 Engineers will continue its outstanding work and 

6 will have an even greater impact in the 21st century 

7 and beyond, and will further enhance the standard 

8 of living and improve the work environment for rail 

9 workers and other laborers for generations to come.

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