Amtrak

Amtrak may claim its decisions are based on numbers, but it sure looks like this carrier is trying to undermine unions and outsource good jobs to low-wage workers. Frankly, Amtrak’s workforce deserves better.

WASHINGTON, DC — The Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), today urged the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to ensure private entities that bid on long-distance Amtrak routes under the Competitive Passenger Rail Service Pilot Program fully comply with the explicit labor standards and service requirements mandated by Congress. TTD Secretary-Treasurer Larry Willis, appearing at the Agency’s […]

Washington, D.C. — Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement following the announcement in Wilmington, DE by Vice President Joe Biden on the winning bidder in Amtrak’s high speed train purchase: “The U.S. economy and working people scored a victory today following the announcement by Vice President Joe Biden […]

On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I write to comment on FRA’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) which seeks to implement the Competitive Passenger Rail Service Pilot Program. As the FRA notes, Section 11307 of the FAST Act (codified at 49 USC 24711) has directed the agency to solicit bids from non-Amtrak entities to replace current Amtrak service on up to three long-distance routes and that this NPRM is a result of that mandate. By way of background, TTD consists of 32 affiliated unions representing workers in all modes of transportation, including employees working on and in conjunction with existing passenger rail routes, who would be impacted by this proceeding.

Washington, DC — Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issued the following statement on the progress to build a new Hudson River Rail Tunnel: “We are pleased that Governors Chris Christie and Andrew Cuomo have advanced a joint plan — in a letter to President Obama — to build a desperately […]

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says as president he’d move aggressively on Amtrak’s long delayed Hudson River rail tunnel project — yes, the same tunnel project he killed as governor five years ago. While cynics (note: I’m a cynic) question motives here and wonder just how much hypocrisy we’ll have to endure in this presidential […]

Dear Representative: On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, I urge you to vote NO on the amendment offered by Rep. Meehan to the FY16 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act. The Meehan amendment would put unreasonable constraints on Amtrak’s ability to operate a national passenger rail system. This amendment would effectively prevent […]

Public Television Covers Infrastructure Issues in Wake of Amtrak Accident  

The start of summer vacation season begins soon and many families will rely on Amtrak to get them there. Almost 31 million passengers took an Amtrak train last year – that’s up 4 percent. This increased popularity in our U.S. passenger rail system comes at a time when Amtrak continues to be short-changed by those […]

Did you miss TTD Secretary-Treasurer Larry Willis discussing Fast Track and the Amtrak and surface transportation reauthorizations on America’s Work Force Radio on Monday? You’re in luck — you can listen to the show here on the MoveAmerica blog. TTD stands with the AFL-CIO in opposition to Fast Track: as Larry points out in the interview, in the […]