Chicago, Ill.
Vice President Mac A. Fleming has devoted his career to improving the lives of the members of his union, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees (BMWE), and to helping all transportation workers and their families achieve economic security.
He began his career in rail transportation at the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe (AT&SF) Railroad in 1968, at which time he joined BMWE. The members soon recognized his leadership skills and elected him Local Chairman of BMWE Local 2414 in Colorado.
Vice President Fleming served for 13 years as a System Federation Officer, of which he devoted six years as General Chairman of the AT&SF System Federation. In 1986, he was elected International Secretary-Treasurer, and beginning in 1990, he was elected the rail union’s International President for four consecutive elections.
He was a leader in advancing an aggressive agenda for financing of the national Amtrak system, promoting safety and security reforms in the freight rail industry, protecting rail workers’ bargaining rights, securing and strengthening the Railroad Retirement System, and insisting that the Federal government uphold protections for workers in the event of rail mergers and acquisitions.
He was elected an AFL-CIO Vice President in 1995 and contributed to the Executive Council as a member of the committees on ethical practices, legislation, and safety and health. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the Transportation Trades Department and the Board of Directors of Union Privilege.
On behalf of the men and women of the unions of the AFL-CIO, the Executive Council expresses its gratitude and appreciation to Vice President Mac A. Fleming for his service and devotion to the members of his union and to the labor movement.