The BLET National Legislative Office, in conjunction with the BLET Education & Training Department, held its second legislative representatives workshop on March 1-6, 2009.

The group was welcomed in the evening of March 1 by Vice President & National Legislative Representative John Tolman and Coordinator of Education and Training Ken Kroeger.

The group was addressed at IBT headquarters by Representatives Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) and Bill Shuster (R-PA). Representative Kucinich talked about the failure of the financial industry to protect the interests of ordinary Americans. Representative Shuster, who serves as the Ranking Member of the House Railroad Subcommittee, spoke to the group about issues coming before the subcommittee this year, including STB reform and highway reauthorization.

The class also met with Representative James Oberstar (D-MN), the Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Chairman Oberstar discussed high speed rail and also noted the work on labor in making this nation great.

The group was also addressed by Teamsters General President Hoffa and General Secretary-Treasurer Keegel.

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, several speakers also addressed the group, including Fred McLuckie, IBT Legislative Director; Christy Bailey, IBT Director of Field Action; and Bill Munger, a member of BLET Division 439 (Allston, Mass.) and Eastern Regional Training Coordinator for the IBT.Other classes were conducted by instructors, including Vice President Tolman; Steve Bruno, BLET Director of Regulatory Affairs; Tim Smith, California State Legislative Board Chairman and Chairman of the National Association of State Legislative Board Chairmen; Tim Hanely, Ohio State Legislative Board Chairman; Ken Kroeger; Kathleen Policy, BLET Legislative, Political and Regulatory Coordinator; and Erin Magrath, Assistant to the Vice President & National Legislative Representative.

On Thursday and Friday, the 22 workshop attendees, plus several other BLET members, visited Members of Congress on Capitol Hill to discuss high speed rail, National Mediation Board funding, Rail Safety and the Employee Free Choice Act.