The ITF is sad to announce that James M. Brunkenhoefer has passed away. He died of a stroke on December 19, 2008.

Brunkenhoefer, more commonly known as Brokenrail, was the US national legislative director of the United Transportation Union. He was a powerful figure in Washington, and an important advocate for rail workers and their rights.

Brunkenhoefer most recently pushed for new regulations designed to give rail workers more rest time and predictable schedules. Those provisions were part of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008. He also advocated successfully for revisions to rail retirement law that allowed workers with 30 years' service to retire at age 60 with full pension benefits.

He began his railway career in 1966, working for the Southern Pacific Transportation Company. He was promoted to engineer in 1971. Brunkenhoefer was involved with his union from the off. He was elected vice local chair of Local 83 in Houston in 1969, and took on a number of roles there, before becoming a director for the Texas State Legislative Board in 1982.

At the UTU's convention in 1987, Brunkenhoefer was elected national legislative director for the UTU in1987. He was re-elected to this role five times, holding the post for a total of 21 years. In 2007, he was also was appointed to a government group, the Surface Transportation Board, which studied energy issues related to transportation.

David Cockroft adds: “Brokenrail was one of the most powerful voices for labour in Washington, and a major power in the Democratic Party.  Whenever I was in town he took me for dinner at the Democratic National Club, where he introduced me as a close friend to senators and congressmen I had only read about in the newspapers.  Tragically he died just after learning of the election of Barack Obama. I am sure he would have had a major impact on the new Democrat administration which was being formed.  To his friends and family I send the ITF's deepest sympathy. To his union the UTU and his successor, and longtime assistant James Stem, we send our strong solidarity.  Railroad workers throughout the USA gained many benefits from the quiet determined work which Brokenrail did on Capitol Hill."