The officers reassembled on May 16, to put in another day of discussion about issues of importance to maintenance of way workers.

The first speaker was Jim Boehner of the Railroad Retirement Board, filling in for Labor Member Butch Speakman who had to attend an Occupational Disability Task Force meeting as well as meet with the Republican leadership of the Committee which has jurisdiction over the Board’s budget.

Boehner spoke at length about the railroads’ attack on the occupational disability pension benefit and how the rail unions and Speakman and his staff are fighting back. He also noted that on the coldest (40 degrees below zero with the wind chill factor) day in Chicago last year, the Board was picketed for the first time since it was created.

Union members, including a large proportion from the BMWE, and their supporters "weren’t picketing the workers of the Railroad Retirement Board, but were picketing the fact that you had two Board members that were doing everything possible to adversely affect vulnerable, disabled, sick members in the rail industry."

Boehner’s remarks were supplemented by BMWE Counsel Don Griffin who had attended the most recent Task Force meeting.

After questions and answers, the next speakers were Bruce Fine, FRA Associate Administrator and George Gavalla, FRA project coordinator and former Signalmen Research Director. Both men gave excellent presentations on the critical safety issues of today, followed by questions and answers.

Gavalla said that while he doesn’t like "to single out any individual because all this work is a team effort," he felt he had to point out BMWE Director of Safety "Rick Inclima’s marshaling of" the equipment safety issue. "The way he brought that to our attention, he did it in such a way that it couldn’t be ignored ... his skillfulness, I’ve got to give him credit for that."

Next on the agenda was Grand Lodge Secretary-Treasurer W. E. LaRue who presented his annual financial report. Later in the day, LaRue also spoke about Ellis Reporting and introduced BMWE Director of Information Systems Jim Superfisky and BMWE Information Analyst Rick Forbes who gave a live demonstration of the BMWE on the Internet. LaRue praised the work of Superfisky and Forbes in his department.

Other reports were given by Vice President Gary Housch, report on Canada; Legislative Director Mike DeEmilio, legislative report; Director of Research Joel Myron, bargaining report; Bill Bon, legal report.

Southwestern Region Vice President Larry Borden introduced a resolution regarding the balanced budget amendment before Congress. Beginning, "Whereas, the budget plan agreed to by the Clinton administration and the Republican congressional leadership makes the wrong choices for working families, one that takes from them at a time when they can ill afford it and rewards upper-income taxpayers at a time when they least deserve it," the resolution resolves "that as the budget debate takes place over the next six months, the BMWE will inject the voices of working families into every discussion and every decision, fighting to change the political atmosphere that led to its making." Seconded by General Chairman Jed Dodd, the resolution passed unanimously.

Secretary-Treasurer LaRue then gave a report on the status of the Maintenance of Way Political League (MWPL). He reported that donations for 1996 were $156,789.36, an increase of $15,000 from the year before, and participation increased by 223 members. The sum of $154,983.00 was donated to 217 candidates and committees in 1996.

Backed by vivid and impressive slides, the highlight of the day was the presentation of the annual MWPL awards. These were:

Highest Contributing Member
William Glisson

Highest Contributing Retiree
John Mack

Highest Contributing Full-time Officer/Appointee
Tony Wheeler

Outstanding Legislative Director
Gary Scott (Missouri)

Highest Contributing Subordinate Lodge
Accepted by Sam Baca, Subordinate Lodge 2414 (AT&SF) Lodge President

Highest Contributing System
Accepted by Mark Hemphill, AT&SF System Federation General Chairman

Highest Contributing Region
Accepted by Leon Fenhaus, Northwest Region Chairman.