Constitution and Bylaws

BMWED Strike Benefits

Article XIX, section 19 of the Bylaws of the BMWED-IBT provide the following:

"Sec. 19 Strike Benefits. Members out on authorized strikes or locked out by management shall be paid such amounts for their relief as the funds of the National Division may warrant, which payment shall terminate upon the date the strike or lockout is terminated. Members receiving such benefits shall register each day. Striking members securing employment elsewhere shall be excluded from all strike benefits."

Memo inculding BMWED strike benefit information, eligibility requirements and filing procedures, can be viewed and printed by following this link.

BMWED Dues

Pursuant to our "Union Shop and Dues Check-Off Agreement" with the Railroads, monthly BMWED dues are automatically deducted from employee earnings, however the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees will not or cannot begin to deduct dues without your express written consent.

Please complete and submit a Dues Deduction Authorization Form prior to the completion of your 60^th day of railroad service. Your completed dues authorization form must be on file in our office before the BMWED will process your membership. Failure to submit this form in a timely manor will result in complications with your union status or an arrearage in your dues obligation.

Download and Print a Deduction Authorization form and instructions. Questions concerning the form should be referred to our offices.

View our current dues calculations. Dues calculations from preceding years can be viewed here

What do our monthly National Division dues pay for? View our National Division dues structure here.

Annual Dues Receipt

Generate an annual dues receipt by logging on to the BMWED International web site and accessing the MEMBERS area, then clicking on "My Annual Dues Receipt".

Before producing the dues receipt, the BMWED system will:

1. check to make sure a December deduction for the railroad has gone through the rack, and
2. at least one bank record for the December deduction have been allocated.

If the conditions are met the user will get a PDF version of the receipt to print (view example). If the conditions are not met they will receive a notification that their December deduction has not been processed.

BMWED Initiation Fee

Pursuant to Article XV, Sections 2 and 3 of the BMWED-IBT Bylaws, the initiation fee for newly hired members will be one hundred dollars ($100.00).

Article XV, Section 2 states:

“Initiations for new members shall be $100.00, the entire amount of which will be collected in every instance. No portions of this fee to be returned to applicant or any dispensation granted doing away with same except on roads, portions of the roads, or employers where there is no organization, where the BMWED has become depleted, where dual organizations hold contract or where the BMWED is being seriously threatened by new organizations.

New members paying their initiation fee in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be required to make application for membership by filing a membership request form* with the proper System Division or Federation office.”

Article XV, Section 3 states:

“Each member shall be required to pay all BMWED dues and assessments.”

Download More information about BMWED Initiation Fee

* the United Passenger Rail Federation uses the Dues Deduction Authorization Form as a request for membership application

BMWED Non-Working Dues

Amended Article XV, Section 3, Paragraph 3 of the BMWE Division Bylaws provides good-standing status during unemployment or sickness. View rate table here.

2015 Election of Officers - The American Arbitration Association counted the ballots for the 2015 Pennsylvania Federation elections. A total of 2,664 ballots were mailed to our membership, and 807 were returned. This translates to only 30% of our members choosing to participate in this democratic process.

Pennsylvania Federation Bylaws August 2011

Pennsylvania Federation Bylaws August 2007

Pennsylvania Federation Resolutions August 2007

BMWED Bylaws January 2010

BMWE Bylaws January 2005

BMWE - TEAMSTER Merger

• November 19, 2004 3000 former BMWE Canadian members elect Steelworkers
• BMWE-Teamster Merger Results
• Member Jim Teague Response to Simpson and Geller letter
• CIRB Orders Representation Election for Canadians on CN
• September 2004 An Appeal to Reason-Special BMWE/Teamster Issue
• Duplicate Ballot Procedure
• U.S. Rail Conference Bylaws
• BMWE Announces Merger Agreement Reached with TEAMSTERS
• Merger Question and Answer sheet
• August 23, 2004 BMWED-IBT Merger Agreement

Merger Activity – Post Boilermaker

• June 10, 2004  CIRB Asked to Reconsider Teamster Certification
• June 9, 2004 CIRB Certifies Teamster on CP in Canada
• March 26, 2004 Chairman Kruk responds to VP Deptuck
• March 19, 2004 VP Deptuck to Chairman Kruk RE: Canadian membership raid
• March 2004 BMWE/Teamster Merger Update
• Grand Lodge Member Survey, Teamster Merger
• October 16, 2003 Chairman Bowden works to keep Canadian BMWE Members
• October 14, 2003 Grand Lodge urges BMWE Members to Leave BMWE
• Teamster $100,000 Club
• September 16, 2003 Acting President Simpson announces talks with Teamsters
• February 14, 2003 President Fleming's reply to Steelworkers
• January 30, 2003 Teamsters Express Interest, Offer Merger to BMWE
• January 17, 2003 Penn Fed Resolution Supporting Merger Talks with USWA
• December 19, 2002 Steelworkers Renewed Interest in Exploring Merger

Boilermaker Takeover - Round II

• Merger Vote Count
• President Fleming’s response to Unauthorized Endorsement
• Unauthorized Merger Endorsement
• Duplicate Ballot Phone Number
• Balloting Procedure
• An Appeal To Reason – September Issue
• Settlement Reached Will Provide Certain Rights in Upcoming Vote
• Members First, Issue 10, Pension for BMWE Members Gone
• August 23, 2002 General Chairman Dodd Responds to IBB Pension Collapse
• August 22, 2002 General Chairman Dodd Responds to Bill LaRue
• Merger Committee Explains IBB Pension No Longer Available
• Members First Issue 9, Fleming Dismissal Clear Way for IBB
• Paul Swanson letter RE: Fleming Carrier-like dismissal
• Joel Myron letter RE: Fleming Carrier-like dismissal

Boilermaker Takeover - Round I

• Members First Issue 5
• Merger Ballot Count
• Member First Issue 4
• Burlington Northern Federation Newsletter
• Ballot Counting Questioned
• Member First Issue 3
• Member First Issue 2
• CRSF Lodge 201 Resolution
• July 31, 2001 General Chairman Glover “no free lunch”
• July 31, 2001 VP Housch response to President Fleming
• Takeover Reference Chart, issue by issue
• IBB Impediment to Democracy
• Member First Issue 1
• July 23, 2001 General Chairman Dodd responds to Merger Committee
• Steelworkers Union letter RE: Merger Invitation with BMWE
• July 17, 2002 VP Housch responds to Merger Committee
• Pennsylvania Federation Resolution
• Takeover Agreement
• IBB Bylaws 

Dues calculations from preceding years

* No change in dues formula

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"An Injury To One Is An Injury To All"