Thirteen Michigan Central Railroad locomotive engineers meet at the home of William D. Robinson of Marshall, Michigan, to discuss unjust pay cuts and other workplace grievances. They craft a plan for a Protective Association and put out a call for a general meeting. Engineers from five Michigan railroads gather in Detroit and, on May 8, 1863, form the Brotherhood of the Footboard. The name would change one year later to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and again in 2004, to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen — the oldest labor organization in North America.

LE&CMPA President, Harry L. Fidler, an original incorporator of the Association, enters the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1891, as a fireman, and after two years takes his promotion to engineer. He belongs to Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 79, Columbus, and Division 11, Indianapolis, and for 15 years serves as general secretary and treasurer of the general committee of adjustment, Pennsylvania Lines West of Pittsburgh. President Harding appoints Fidler to the Federal Board for Vocational Education.

July 10, 1910 – October 9, 1934

Michigan authorizes Locomotive Engineers’ Mutual Protective Association to conduct business as a co-operative assessment insurer.

July 26

At the second members’ meeting, the Association adds conductors to its name, becoming the Locomotive Engineers & Conductors Mutual Protective Association.

July 23

Officers of the Association report income of $16,518.85, and claims totaling $11,914.31 at the third members meeting; a loss ratio of 72 percent. Membership stands at 1,673.

June 5

The Association features its new tunnel and arch logo on the June issue of The Pilot.

June

The Pilot announces: “We are now insuring ALL RAILROAD EMPLOYEES WORKING UNDER SENIORITY RULES. Dispatchers, operators, clerks, shopmen, carmen, maintenance of way employees;—all of them are now eligible if they are of good character and have one year’s seniority rights.”

April

For an additional 50 cents per month, members can add coverage for job loss from physical disability or retirement. Available to members age 45 or younger.

September

The Washington Boulevard Building, the Association’s second Detroit headquarters from July 1931 to July 1936.

Constructed in 1922-23 at the corner of State Street and Washington Boulevard, the Washington Boulevard Building owes its design to Louis Kamper, architect of Detroit’s Gilded Age. The 23-story office structure is built in the Chicago School style of architecture and features a Neo-Classical limestone base.

July 1931

Trustees allow suspension of policies for members “entering the armed and auxiliary services.” The Michigan Insurance Department requires adding a pro rata clause to all job insurance policies.

October 14

The five operating brotherhoods order a strike after requesting a 30 percent increase in basic daily wage rates, with a minimum daily increase of $1.80. After recommendations of an emergency board are rejected, the President reconvenes the board. A full re-argument of the dispute commences and both parties to the dispute accept a basic daily wage increase of 76 cents to railroad employees.

November 12

LE&CMPA reports thousands of members in local street car and bus service at 44 cities: Birmingham, Ala., Montgomery, Ala., Little Rock, Ark., Oakland, Cal., San Francisco, Cal., Denver, Co., Washington D.C., Tampa, Fla., Atlanta, Ga., Jackson, Ga., Macon, Ga., Chicago, Ill., Peoria, Ill., Springfield, Ill., Gary, Ind., Indianapolis, Ind., Fort Wayne, Ind., New Orleans, La., Shreveport , La., Detroit, Mich., Flint, Mich., Jackson, Miss., Kansas City, Mo., St. Louis, Mo., Jersey City, N. J., Atlantic City, N. J., Camden, N. J., Newark, N. J., Rochester, N. Y., Syracuse, N. Y., Utica, N. Y., Tulsa, Okla., Portland, Ore., Cleveland, Ohio, Toledo, Ohio, Philadelphia, Pa., Pittsburgh, Pa., Memphis, Tenn., Nashville, Tenn., Knoxville, Tenn., Dallas, Tex., Houston, Tex., San Antonio, Tex., Seattle, Wash. 

Brotherhoods Mutual Benefit of Detroit, aka BMB, merges with LE&CMPA.  

Known for offering railroad members the highest daily benefit, BMB transacted business from the Dime Building in the heart of Detroit’s financial district.  

Completed in 1912, the 23-story building was designed by renowned Chicago architect Daniel Burnham in the Neo-Classical architectural style. The steel-framed gem is faced with white glazed brick and terra cotta trim. 

September 9

President Lewis I. Ward relocated LE&CMPA to the United Artists Theatre Building in July 1936, the Association’s third Detroit headquarters for 24 transformative years.

Located on Bagley Avenue, the 18-story United Artists Theatre Building was erected in 1928 and featured a state-of-the-art movie theatre that could accommodate 2,070 people. Built in the Renaissance Revival architectural style, it was designed by Detroit’s renowned theatre architect, C. Howard Crane.

October 1960

The Rifkind Commission issues recommendations affecting the railroad operating crafts: mandatory retirement at age 65; elimination of locomotive firemen; forced arbitration of train crew size disputes; introduction of technological changes without limitation; elimination of all arbitraries and special allowances, the dual basis of pay, and the speed basis of overtime; new wage structures; and many other radical ideas that depart from long-established industry norms and practices.

February

Due to heavy claims, the Association’s dividend is reduced to 5 percent. Dividends paid annually since 1949 return an average of 10.7 percent to members.

Congress passes the Staggers Rail Act, significantly deregulating American railroads. More than 100,000 miles of track are soon abandoned, leaving tens of thousands of railroad workers out of work, dislocated, and without labor protections.

Clarence E. Shaffner retires after serving as Association president for more than 35 years. The longest-serving president, he was first elected trustee in September of 1931, vice president in October of 1934, and president on October 10, 1945.

December 28, 1980

In its 75th year of business, the Association reports a surplus of $2,509,589.

October 8, 1985

President William L. Davis files with the State Insurance Commissioner to expand member coverage to 365 days at no extra cost, effective
April 1, 1998.

March

United Transportation Union members vote six-to-one in favor of a merger with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. The following December, BLE members vote 17,251-to-7,425 against.

October

LECMPA membership peaks at 33,000.

The Association continues to foster membership among UPS employees. UPS Driver Gilbert Clark of St. Louis, Missouri, is named Trucking / Logistics / UPS Marketing Director.

March 1

SMART TD and BLET unite to save road conductor jobs.

Published in November of 2022, LECMPA’s 2021-22 Annual Report carries news of a September 1st rate reduction for all railroad members and an accompanying upgrade to 365 discipline days for railroad members who carry the Nos. 12 or 16 policies. 

Rates for rail operating craft members are reduced by 25 percent. Lower-priced rail non-operating craft rates fall an additional 12 percent. 

September 1

LECMPA introduces the Premier 550, setting a new industry-best wage loss standard. All No. 16 policyholders gain 185 additional discipline days — a 50 percent increase in covered days at no additional cost.

August 1