Dick Durbin: “today, I want to talk about an incredible champion of America's railroads. James A. Stem, Jr., has been a tireless…”

“today, I want to talk about an incredible champion of America's railroads. James A. Stem, Jr., has been a tireless advocate for the men and women who keep our Nation's railroads operating for nearly 50 years. He has done just about every job in the industry and will soon be retiring as the national legislative director of the Transportation Division of the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, Transportation Workers, formerly the United Transportation Union, UTU. James began his career in 1966 as a trainman for the Seaboard Air Line Railroad in his native Raleigh, NC. He joined the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and worked in numerous capacities including as a trainman, switchman, hostler helper, hostler, fireman, and locomotive engineer. He even holds seniority as a locomotive engineer on a CSX line. In the 1970s, James became much more involved in rail labor in North Carolina for the United Transportation Union. He was a delegate to five UTU International conventions and was eventually elected as the North Carolina State legislative director in 1984. He would go on to become the UTU alternate national legislative director in 1998, serving alongside a legend, James Brunkenhoefer--also known as ``Brokenrail.'' James was elevated to national legislative director in 2009. In 2011, United Transportation Union and Sheet Metal Workers International Association merged to become the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers.…”