J. Mark Robb...

International President...

J. Mark Robb is the International President of the BR&CF. It is his firm belief that a BR&CF membership is a necessity for all rail workers and their families. He says, "In today's rail industry we are faced with uncertain conditions and precarious situations every time we go to work. BR&CF job income protection is a shield against financial upheaval for railroaders (and their families) in the event that they become "Held Out of Service."

Mr. Robb became a member of this organization in 1990 and earned an appointment to the position of terminal president for Vancouver the next year. In 1992, he accepted an appointment to serve on the Board of Directors. At the 1993 Annual Meeting of the Members, he was elected Director. In 1997 he was elected Assistant International President. He was elected International Secretary-Treasurer in 2001. In April 2006 he became International President.

Born in 1951, Mr. Robb completed his high school education in southern Ontario. His travels took him to Thunder Bay in northern Ontario, where in May of 1972 he began employment with the Canadian National Railway. He chose to transfer with the railway to western Canada and worked in Jasper, Alberta, for five years before moving to Vancouver, British Columbia. His active railroad career in the “running trades” has covered twenty-seven years, and he has worked as a yard switchman, yard foreman, brakeman, conductor and locomotive engineer. In the capacity of on-the-job trainer, he shared his experience and assisted in the education of student locomotive engineers. He has worked in yard, through freight, switcher and passenger service.

Mr. Robb is a staunch trade unionist. He worked as a member of the BLE Division 945 Local Committee of Adjustment and completed three terms as the Legislative Representative before devoting his undivided attention to health and safety concerns. His experience with health and safety issues extends over two decades. He served as a union Co-Chairperson of the Health & Safety Committee the majority of that time. He is a qualified CN instructor on health & safety topics.

The accomplishments of Mr. Robb are not limited to the local union level. He was responsible for the BLE International Division participation in SteamExpo, which was a 10-day specialized event of the 1986 World Exposition on Transportation. In 1986, as a member of the BLE Committee for the Future, he participated in strategic planning projects for the locomotive engineer's union. In 1991 he organized the International Western Convention, which is a regional meeting of the BLE. That same year, he assisted with the BLE exhibit at California's Railfair 91. In 1992 he was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the International Western Convention and served in that position until 1999. He has also taken part in community affairs by serving on the Board of Directors of the CNR Employees Credit Union. Mr. Robb is presently the Vice Chairman of the North American Railway Foundation.

Mr. Robb and his wife, Leslie, are blessed with three daughters, Meaghan, Jessica, and Laura. He takes pleasure in hiking, bicycling and downhill skiing with his family. He and his family moved to Pennsylvania in 1999, when he began working in the Principal Office. Mr. Robb states, "With the support of the Board of Directors, Officers, staff and the BR&CF membership, I will continue to work diligently to ensure that each member's expectation of excellent service, reliability and value is met or exceeded"

 

 

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