Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen

The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen was founded in 1883 in Oneonta, New York as a protective and insurance organization. By the time of its merger with three other railroad labor unions to form the United Transportation Union in 1969, it had the greatest membership of any of the operating railroad brotherhoods.

From the description of Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen series 6. General subject files, 1897-1968, bulk 1934-1968. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 64755509

The Pennsylvania State Legislative Board of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen was composed of elected legislative representatives from each lodge who met for "the purpose of protecting the interest of...[BRT] members along legislative lines."

From the description of Series 4, Subseries 4. Organizational files, 1930-1968. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63891007

From the description of Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. Series 4, Subseries 3. General legislative files, 1953-1963. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63891010

The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen was founded in 1883 in Oneonta, N.Y. as a protective and insurance organization. By the time of its merger with three other railroad labor unions to form the United Transportation Union in 1969, it had the greatest membership of any of the operating railroad brotherhoods.

From the description of Series 5, Subseries 2. Mediation and dispute files, 1891-1967. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 64755510

From the description of Series 2. Locals' files, 1885-1968, bulk 1941-1968. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63891015

From the description of Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. Series 7. Files of the New York Central Railroad (Lines East) General Grievance Committee, 1923-1973. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63891002

From the description of Series 8, Subseries 2. Publications of railroads and other railroad unions, 1918-1955. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63890996

From the description of Series 1, Subseries 5. Legislative and political files, 1937-1966. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63891018

From the description of Series 1, Subseries 3. Convention files, 1935-1954, bulk 1949-1954. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63891022

From the description of Series 1, Subseries 4. Financial files, 1925-1968. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63891019

From the description of Series 1, Subseries 2. Fringe benefit files, 1959-1965. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63891024

From the description of Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen Series 5, Subseries 1. Agreements, 1891-1965. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63891004

From the description of Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. Series 1, Subseries 6. Wage-rule files, 1939-1970. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63891016

From the description of Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen Series 5. Collective bargaining and dispute files, ca. 1891-1967. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63891006

The Pennsylvania State Legislative Board of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen was composed of elected legislative representatives from each lodge who met for "the purpose of protecting the interest of ... [BRT] members along legislative lines."

From the description of Series 4, Subseries 2. Election files, 1912-1968. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63891011

From the description of Series 4, Subseries 5. Selected subject files, 1915-1968. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 64755513

The Pennsylvania State Legislative Board of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen was composed of elected legislative representatives from each lodge who met for "the purpose of protecting the interest of [BRT] members along legislative lines."

From the description of Series 4, Subseries 1. Internal minutes, reports, and correspondence, 1955-1964. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63891012

The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen was founded in 1883, in Oneonta, N.Y. as a protective and insurance organization. By the time of its merger with three other railroad labor unions to form the United Transportation Union in 1969, it had the greatest membership of any of the operating railroad brotherhoods.

From the description of Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. Series 1, Subseries 1. Constitutions, rules and circulars of general instruction, 1883-1968. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63891025

From the description of Series 1. Presidents' subject files, 1883-1970, bulk 1950-1968. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63891026

The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen was founded in 1883 in Oneonta, N.Y. as a protective and insurance organization. By the time of its merger with three other railroad labor unions to form the United Transportation Union in 1968, it had the greatest membership of any of the operating railroad brotherhoods.

From the description of Series 8, Subseries 1. BRT publications and reports, 1925-1968. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63890999

From the description of Series 8. Publications and reports, 1918-1968. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63891001

In 1883, eight men met in Delaware & Hudson R.R. Caboose No. 10 at Oneonta, New York, to talk about working conditions. A few days later on 23 September 1883, the Grand Lodge of the "Brotherhood of Railroad Brakemen" (BRB) was organized. The Oneonta lodge was called " E.V. Debs Lodge No. 1" in honor of Eugene Victor Debs, Grand Secretary and Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen. He provided a great assistance in forming the infant organization. on 1 January 1890, the name of the organization was changed to the "Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen" (BRT).

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) was North America's oldest rail labor union when it merged with the Teamsters in 2004. It had members in the eastern half of the United States and parts of Canada. Conductors were able to enter, but the union was not specialized to deal with their issues. The BLE was the first of the "Big Four" of railroad worker brotherhoods: 1) Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE, 1864), organized as Brotherhood of the Footboard in 1863. 2) Order of Railway Conductors (ORC, 1868). 3) Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen (BLF, 1873), later the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen (BLFE, 1904). 4) Brotherhood of Railroad Brakemen, (1883), later the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen (BRT). In 1969, all except the BLE joined with the Switchmen's Union to become the United Transportation Union (UTU). In the era after the founding of the Big Four, some sixteen other "brotherhoods" of railroad trades organized. Membership qualifications across trades shifted, and the alliances among the brotherhoods (and their chapters) are not always clear. After 1877, the BLE was considered less militant than some other brotherhoods, as well as the Knights of Labor and the American Railway Union.

In the 1920s, the members of Lodge 1 (which incidentally had changed its name to "Daniel Hopkins"), in order to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the formation of the Brotherhood, located Caboose No. 10 which had deteriorated over the years. With the help of the Delaware and Hudson Railroad, the caboose was brought back to Oneonta, restored to its original condition, placed under a pagoda in Newahwa Park in Oneonta, and on 23 September 1924, a ceremony was held there to celebrate the occasion. Four of the original eight founding members were still living and attended.

Sources: Larry Buchan. "Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen 120th Anniversary." Internet Horology Club 185, http://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6366042471/m/6906061434. 23 Sep. 2003. Web. 26 Nov. 2012.

Wikipedia contributors. "Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brotherhood_of_Locomotive_Engineers_and_Trainmen, 29 Oct. 2012. Web. 26 Nov. 2012.

From the guide to the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen letter MSS. 0216., 1921 March 16, (W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, The University of Alabama)

The Pennsylvania State Legislative Board of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen (BRT) was composed of elected legislative representatives from each lodge, who met for "the purpose of protecting the interest of...[BRT] members along legislative lines."

The Legislative Department of the Brotherhood was established in 1930 and coordinated the activities of the legislative boards established in the United States, its territories, and the District of Columbia. A separate Legislative Department existed for Canada. Local legislative representatives were elected by their lodges for four year terms and met and selected their own executive committees, to consist of a chairman, vice-chairman, secretary and treasurer. The boards met periodically throughout the year. State legislative executive boards were constitutionally mandated to meet prior to each primary and general election for the purpose of endorsing candidates for state and federal office.

From the description of Series 4. Pennsylvania State Legislative Board, Director's files, (C.J. Sludden), 1915-1968, bulk 1930-1968. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63891013

The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen was founded in 1883 in Oneonta, N.Y. as a protective and insurance organization. By the time of its merger with three other railroad labor unions to form the United Transportation Union in 1969, it had the greatest membership of any of the operating railroad brotherhoods.

The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen (BRT) was established to represent members' interests in obtaining a satisfactory contract with management. The first Canadian lodge was established in Moncton, New Brunswick in 1885, and the first Ladies' Auxiliary was organized in Fort Gratiot, Mich. in 1889. These records reflect the union's political and fraternal activities as well as its actions in the areas of collective bargaining, grievances, and railroad and labor legislation. As the largest of the unions which merged to form the United Transportation Union in 1969, the bulk of its then current files formed the basis for the files now held in the merged union's headquarters.

The rail service members of the BRT included conductors and their assistants, dining car stewards, ticket collectors, train baggagemen, brakemen, and train flagmen. The yard service members of the BRT included yardmasters, yard conductors, switchtenders, foremen, flagmen, brakemen, switchmen, car tenders, operators, hump riders, and car operators. In 1933, the BRT organized interstate bus operators, and included them under BRT contracts held with U.S. bus companies.

BRT officers were elected at the Grand Lodge Convention of the Brotherhood, held every 4 years. The principal officers included a president, an assistant to the president, a general secretary-treasurer, Canadian and national legislative representatives, a senior vice-president, BRT representative, and National Railroad Board of Adjustment representative. The BRT had four governing boards: the Board of Directors, Board of Trustees and Insurance, Board of Appeals, and Executive Board.

From the description of Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen records, 1883-1973, bulk 1928-1968. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63891028

State legislative boards represented the interests of the union with state and local political and judicial forums.

Depending upon the size of the Brotherhood membership within a particular state, the union would employ either a full or part time legislative representative who would act as the union's lobbyist with local, state, or national political representatives in matters of interest to the union's members. Typically, such matters would include both specifically local issues such as discontinuance of service on a particular rail line and national matters such as pension legislation. These representatives would also coordinate political contributions and endorsements for local and national candidates and would often serve as the union's representative before state regulatory boards, such as railroad or public utility commissions, or the state division of the Interstate Commerce Commission.

From the description of Series 3. State Legislative Boards, miscellaneous files, 1963-1966. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63891014

The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen was founded in 1883 in Oneonta, N.Y. as a protective and insurance organization. By the time of its merger with three other railroad labor unions to form the United Transportation Union in 1969, it had the greatest membership of any of the operating railroad brotherhoods.

The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen (BRT) was established to represent members' interests in obtaining a satisfactory contract with management. The first Canadian lodge was established in Moncton, New Brunswick in 1885, and the first Ladies' Auxiliary was organized in Fort Gratiot, Mich. in 1889. These records reflect the union's political and fraternal activities as well as its actions in the areas of collective bargaining, grievances, and railroad and labor legislation. As the largest of the unions which merged to form the United Transportation Union in 1969, the bulk of its then current files formed the basis for the files now held in the merged union's headquarters.

The rail service members of the BRT included conductors and their assistants, dining car stewards, ticket collectors, train baggagemen, brakemen, and train flagmen. The yard service members of the BRT included yardmasters, yard conductors, switchtenders, foremen, flagmen, brakemen, switchmen, car tenders, operators, hump riders, and car operators. In 1933, the BRT organized interstate bus operators, and included them under BRT contracts held with U.S. bus companies.

BRT officers were elected at the Grand Lodge Convention of the Brotherhood, held every 4 years. The principal officers included a president, an assistant to the president, a general secretary-treasurer, Canadian and national legislative representatives, a senior vice-president, BRT representative, and National Railroad Board of Adjustment representative. The BRT had four governing boards: the Board of Directors, Board of Trustees and Insurance, Board of Appeals, and Executive Board.

From the guide to the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. Records, 1883-1973, bulk 1928-1968., (Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library)