Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I am sure you are aware by now that our brother and General Chairman Dave Decker has
submitted his resignation effective January 1, 2017. As per our National and GCA bylaws, I am to
assume the General Chairman position effective on the same date and hold that position until the next
quadrennial election. I am also required to resign as Local Chairman of Division 373 and Brother Larry
Brain being the first Vice Local chairman is to assume the position of Local Chairman. He will also hold
that position until the next triennial election is held. Brother Brain is familiar with all aspects of local
chairman duties. He has worked with me filing penalty claims, has attended safety meetings, is
confidentially trained by the C3RS peer review team and has attended and prepared several discipline
hearings and investigations for our members. I have no doubt that brother Brain will be a fine local
chairman for the BLE& T /GCA.
Now, I would like to thank General Chairman Decker for all his hard work and devotion to the
BLE& T. Brother Decker has worked tirelessly during his tenure as G/C. Some of his many
accomplishments include overturned dismissal cases, the implementation of the C3RS program,
deadhead penalty claims and negotiated increases for such, the BLE& T /NJT website, streamlining the
payroll discrepancy process for quicker payments, 10.4 pay differential. He regained the 013 payment
again and this is just to name a few. I for one know that his resignation is a loss for this fine organization
the, BLE&T.
Please accept this as my official resignation as Local Chairman of Division 373 effective January 1,
2017. It has been a privilege and an honor to serve as Local Chairman and I look forward to serving as
General Chairman for all divisions.
Thank you,
James P. Brown
Local Chairman Division 373