Expect Proposal In Amtrak Pact Talks

By ARI PAUL

A Presidential Emergency Board concluded hearing testimony from Amtrak management and labor representatives Dec. 13, and is expected to hand down non-binding recommendations for a settlement by the end of this year.

ALEX KUMMANT: Work-rule changes vital.

A coalition of nine unions has been seeking a new labor settlement for the last eight years and has threatened to strike as early as February after a 30-day "cooling-off period" concludes. The main issue causing the stalemate is the Federally-funded passenger railroad's insistence on expanding flexibility with work rules in order to make it more competitive, which includes expanding the ability to hire outside contractors.

Pay for More Latitude?

In his testimony, Amtrak President and CEO Alex Kummant said that the pressures of high operating costs and a competitive environment for Federal funds created the need for flexible work rules.

"If we can get the work rules that will allow us to grow efficiently, I think we can take advantage of the favorable economic climate to expand service and provide greater opportunities for our current work force," Mr. Kummant said.

He added that management was willing to sweeten the pot for workers.

"We proposed raising wages some 30 percent, and we added a signing bonus for $4,500," Mr. Kummant said. "This was a good offer, and one that we hope will become the basis of a settlement. But it was more than just a good offer; it was the best we could afford."

But Transport Workers Union of America Vice President Gary Maslanka charged that the proposed changes were unnecessary.

"Amtrak's proposals themselves are demoralizing to an already-demoralized work group that has waited eight years for a new agreement," he said in his testimony.

He also claimed that management has not provided figures to adequately show that its proposals would save a significant amount of money.

'Hasn't Proved Need'

"Amtrak has not and cannot make a case that it actually needs these changes," Mr. Maslanka said. "First, it has not used the flexibility it currently has under existing work rules. Second, Amtrak's work rules are similar to those on the freights, which have achieved record levels of productivity and profitability, as well as most [lines carrying] commuters."

The other 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, and the American Train Dispatchers Union. Five other Amtrak unions would not be involved in the possible work stoppage. As Amtrak workers are technically in the private sector, they are not legally barred from striking.

"The real issue is that Amtrak from day one they wanted all kinds of drastic work-rule changes that are not justified," Mr. Maslanka said in a phone interview. "At this point, although we'd have liked to see some progress, we haven't seen it as of yet."