Stage Set For Possible Strike At Amtrak

By ARI PAUL

A coalition of unions representing workers at Amtrak, the nation's interstate passenger train service, could go on strike early next year if the two sides cannot agree on language about proposed work rule changes and provisions to have workers pay a portion of their health-care premiums.

In October, the National Mediation Board released the nine unions that had been in an unsuccessful mediation for the last several years, Amtrak spokesman Cliff Black said in a phone interview Nov. 21.

Job, Health-Cost Issues

Amtrak, which operates on Federal subsidies, is seeking to make work rules more flexible in order for it to become more efficient, which was a major sticking point in past negotiations, Mr. Black said. Another contentious issue was that Amtrak wanted its workers to pay a portion of their health costs, which they had never done in the past. But the railroad firm is also offering to give workers pay raises.

"The Railway Labor Act is designed to keep negotiations going, so that you minimize the chance of a work stoppage and a shutdown of the nation's railroads," Mr. Black said. "It's designed to have a very carefully considered series of milestones that must be passed before a party, as we say euphemistically, seeks self-help."

The RLA is a set of labor provisions that is as complex and multi-faceted as the systems it governs. A month-long "cooling-off" period in accordance with the RLA started Nov. 1, in which no new negotiations or work actions can occur. The President can impose a presidential emergency board for another 30 days. Another cooling-off period would follow, pushing the possibility of a work stoppage until February of next year.

Unions Affected

The unions involved are the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees, the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, the International Association of Machinists, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers, the Transportation Communications International Union, the Transport Workers Union and the American Train Dispatchers Union. Five other Amtrak unions are not involved in the possible work stoppage.

Only one of the unions would have to commence a work stoppage in order to shut down at least a portion of the rail network, Mr. Black said, but he was confident that Amtrak could avoid a strike.

"It's anybody's guess as to when all possible avenues are exhausted before such time as a strike might occur," he said. "But also there's the possibility that Congress can intervene and pass a law that imposes a settlement."