W.A. Barrows
Encyclopedia
W.A "Walt" Barrows is the current Labor Member of the United States Railroad Retirement Board
. He was nominated by President Barack Obama
on February 28, 2011 and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 26, 2011. He replaced outgoing board member V.M. "Butch" Speakman, who announced his retirement in 2010. The appointment of Barrows to the Board was supported by a number of labor organizations, including the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, as well as the Transportation Trades Department. Barrows has enjoyed a long career in the railroad industry, beginning with Norfolk and Southern Railroad in 1974. He has held numerous positions with Locals 199 and 228, including Local Chairman, Local President, and Recording-Financial Secretary. Most recently, Barrows served as the International Secretary-Treasurer for the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen
. In addition, he has served as a labor member on the joint healthcare subcommittee, which oversees the Railroad Employee's National Health and Welfare Plan. In 2004, 2007, and 2010, Barrows served as labor trustee, responsible for oversight of the National Railroad Retirement Trust Fund.
Railroad Retirement Board
The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board is an independent agency in the executive branch of the United States government created in 1935 to administer a social insurance program providing retirement benefits to the country's railroad workers....
. He was nominated by President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
on February 28, 2011 and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 26, 2011. He replaced outgoing board member V.M. "Butch" Speakman, who announced his retirement in 2010. The appointment of Barrows to the Board was supported by a number of labor organizations, including the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, as well as the Transportation Trades Department. Barrows has enjoyed a long career in the railroad industry, beginning with Norfolk and Southern Railroad in 1974. He has held numerous positions with Locals 199 and 228, including Local Chairman, Local President, and Recording-Financial Secretary. Most recently, Barrows served as the International Secretary-Treasurer for the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen
Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen
The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen is a labor union in the United States and Canada. It represents workers who install and maintain signal systems on rail transport networks...
. In addition, he has served as a labor member on the joint healthcare subcommittee, which oversees the Railroad Employee's National Health and Welfare Plan. In 2004, 2007, and 2010, Barrows served as labor trustee, responsible for oversight of the National Railroad Retirement Trust Fund.