WHEREAS, the International Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, after considering several potential merger partners, voted unanimously to pursue merger discussions with the IBT; and

WHEREAS, a Joint Committee was appointed by the IBLE and the IBT to determine the appropriate terms and conditions for a merger; and

WHEREAS, the Joint Committee met over an extended period, and the representatives became familiar with the operations of each Union and its various subordinate organizations and mutually agreed upon the terms of a Merger Agreement and Bylaws for an IBT Rail Conference, for a Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Division as part of that Conference; and for a Teamsters Canada Rail Conference; and

WHEREAS, the IBLE Advisory Board and the members of the Joint Committee believe that a merger with the IBT will give the IBLE strength and resources to enable it to better represent its members and to negotiate strong contracts; and

WHEREAS, the IBT members of the Joint Committee believe that the merger will strengthen the IBT by dramatically expanding its jurisdiction into the Rail Industry and will ultimately benefit Teamsters members whose jobs are interrelated with the Rail Industry and who work in conjunction with members of the IBLE and other Rail Industry Unions; and

WHEREAS, the IBT members of the Joint Committee, including the General President and the General Secretary-Treasurer, recommend approval of the Merger Agreement, the bylaws for the IBT Rail Conference, the Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Division of that Conference, and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference and the merger they represent;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the General Executive Board approves the Merger, the Merger Agreement and the incorporated Bylaws for the IBT Rail Conference, the Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Division of that Conference, and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the General Executive Board authorizes the issuance of appropriate charters for the IBT Rail Conference and the Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Division, noting that it has previously authorized the issuance of a charter for the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the General Executive Board authorizes the issuance of IBT charters to subordinate bodies of the Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Division as provided by the Merger Agreement and the Bylaws of the Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Division and further authorizes the General President and the General Secretary-Treasurer to take all other actions necessary and proper to effectuate the merger according to the terms and spirit of the Merger Agreement; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the General Executive Board celebrates the decision of the leadership and members of the IBLE to join with our 1.4 million members to create a bigger and stronger Union; welcomes the members of the IBLE in the United States and Canada as full members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters; and pledges that the Teamsters Union, its officers and members will support our newest Rail Industry members in their efforts to obtain the same strong national contracts that the Teamsters Union has negotiated for members in other industries.