BMWED system federations to merge

The Executive Boards of the Unified System Division and the Pacific Federation, both divisions of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, said a merger between the two federations will take affect April 1, 2010. The newly created federation will retain the name, Unified System Division.

The Unified System
Division will now represent more than 5000 members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance
of Way Employes Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and will
continue to maintain an office in Lyman, Wyo.

Wayne Morrow, who will
continue to head the Unified System Division as general chairman, offered, "This
is a testament to the commitment to our membership of all those involved in
making this merger happen. The action taken increases our strength and unity,
the two main ingredients needed for an effective and viable union."

Former Pacific Federation
General Chairman Louis Below was instrumental in helping construct a smooth
merger process and will remain with the newly merged division as a vice chairman.
Former Pacific Federation Vice Chairman Ricardo Canchola will also be retained
as a vice chairman with the Unified System Division.

The Unified System
Division represents members employed at Union Pacific Railroad, a number of
short line railroads and at the Cheyenne, Wyoming Nortrak Plant.

"I would like to extend
my congratulations to the officers and members of both the Unified System
Division and the former Pacific Federation," said BMWED National Division
President Freddie Simpson. "The leadership on both sides of this merger have illustrated
that once again their focus and concern is limited to what’s best for the BMWED
membership."

The Unified System
Division represents workers who provide parts, build, construct, inspect and
maintain railroad tracks, bridges, buildings and equipment.