District 9 Business Representative and IAM Law Committee member Ellen Arbogast was honored at a celebration of her career and retirement recently at the District 9 hall in Bridgeton, MO.
Business Representative Ellen Arbogast celebrates her retirement
In 2009 Ellen was elected to the most prestigious committee of the IAM, the Law Committee. She was the first woman in our Union's history to serve on that committee. At the 2012 Grand Lodge Convention, Ellen also served as the first female Secretary of the Law Committee.
"Throughout her career, Ellen set the course for women in our union. Ellen is what I would classify a "Journeywoman," said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Philip J. Gruber.
IAM International President R. Thomas Buffenbarger, IAM General Secretary-Treasurer Robert Roach, Jr. and IAM Headquarters Vice President Robert Martinez, Jr. honored Ellen and celebrated her distinguished career.
Ellen has served in several capacities at our Grand Lodge Conventions. In 1996, she served as the Chairperson for the Organizing Committee, in 2004 she served on the Appeals and Grievances Committee, and in 2008 she served on the Resolutions Committee.
She is honored to have been a part of the Blue Ribbon Commission created to listen and act on our members' vision for change; many of which are in place today. No stranger to organizing, Ellen was active in several blitzes across the US and Canada, most notably the super blitz in 1995 in Norfolk, Virginia at the naval shipyards.
During the time period leading up to being elected Business Representative, Ellen also served as Auditor, Vice President, and for 9 years, President of LL 1345. She is currently Delegate to The St. Louis Labor Council, Missouri State Council of Machinists, Delegate to the Midwest States Council of Machinist and past Delegate to the Illinois State Council of Machinists. She is past Vice President of Planning for LERA (Labor Employment Relations Association) an organization whose focus is to improve the ever changing labor and employment relationships without partisan posturing. In addition, Ellen has served on the Allocations committee for United Way.
Ellen's career with the IAM began in 1978 where she assisted in organizing the Timekeepers at Lincoln Engineering. Subsequently, she was elected as Shop Steward for 12 years and eventually elected by the largely male population as the first female Chief Shop Steward. Ellen was re-elected Chief Shop Steward an additional two times before being elected by the Delegates of the District as the first female Business Representative for District 9 in 1996.
IP R. Thomas Buffenbarger and GST Robert Roach, Jr. honor BR Ellen Arbogast
GVP Philip J. Gruber honors BR Ellen Arbogast
District 9 Directing Business Representative Tony Rippeto honors BR Ellen Arbogast
BR Ellen Arbogast and her family