| Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen | |
 | |
| Founded | 1901 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Front Royal, Virginia, United States |
| Location | |
| Members | 10,000 |
| Affiliations | AFL–CIO, Transportation Trades Department, Signalmen's Political League (SPL) |
| Website | |
The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS), founded in 1901, is a labor union representing over 10,000 signal employees across the United States and Canada. These members are responsible for the installation, maintenance, and repair of critical railroad traffic control systems, including signaling equipment, highway-rail grade crossing warning systems, and switching mechanisms. The union also represents employees involved in manufacturing and building signal equipment.
Signal employees play a vital role in maintaining the safety and efficiency of rail transportation networks. Their work includes upgrading signal systems, performing regular inspections, and restoring operations in the event of system failures. Signalmen undergo extensive training through a combination of on-the-job experience and formal apprenticeship programs, which cover federal regulations, railroad operations, electronics, and mechanics. After completing up to four years of apprenticeship, members achieve journeyman status, with many advancing further in modern technology and electronic circuitry.
The BRS is headquartered in Front Royal, Virginia, and operates through a network of local lodges that represent members employed by specific railroads or divisions.
The union is affiliated with the AFL-CIO and its Transportation Trades Department, emphasizing its active role within the broader labor movement. It represents signal employees across both freight and passenger railroads, including commuter rail lines.
The BRS's leadership consists of President Michael S. Baldwin, who has held the position since 2021, and Secretary-Treasurer James M. Finnegan, serving since 2019. Vice Presidents include Tim Tarrant, Cory Claypool, Kurt Mullins, Quinn Norman, Brandon Elvey, and Doug VanderJagt.
The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen remains dedicated to promoting the well-being of its members, advancing the craft of railroad signaling, and advocating for the recognition of workers' rights. It strives to enhance members' prosperity and happiness while upholding the principles of truth, justice, and solidarity.
Presidents
- 1901: H. G. Detwiler
- 1908: Philip Weller
- 1908: John Bindscheattel
- 1909: M. J. Hooper
- 1910: J. A. Martin
- 1913: Wilmot J. Pettit
- 1915: A. E. Adams
- 1917: Daniel Helt
- 1934: Anon Lyon
- 1945: Jesse Clark
- 1969: Charles J. Chamberlain
- 1977: Tom Bates
- 1987: Butch Speakman
- 1992: Dan Pickett
- 2018: Floyd Mason
- 2019: Jerry C. Boles
- 2021: Michael S. Baldwin
References
- ^ Notable Names in American History. Clifton, New Jersey: James T. White & Company. 1973. p. 557. ISBN 0883710021.
External links
- Official website
- Brotherhood Of Railroad Signalmen Memorabilia held at the Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library
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