A SMART Transportation Division member and LACMTA train operator will soon be released from the hospital following a collision his train had with a car on LA Metro's Expo Line this morning. The operator is in pain but is stable and will be allowed to return home soon. Local 1565 Chairman Marco Gudino has been at the hospital since the incident was reported along with a Blue Line manager and the operators wife.
SMART Transportation Division is Eager for More Safety and Security
March 20, 2015
Andrew Gonzales, General Chairman's Office
310-528-7973/626-962-9980
gca875smart.org/news
agonzales.utu@gmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BUS OPERATORS UNION IS EAGER FOR MORE SAFETY AND SECURITY
Los Angeles- The SMART Transportation Division is pleased to see new safety barriers being installed by the LACMTA to protect Motor Coach Operators while in service. The union believes though that more can and must be done to provide security on the transit system for passengers and operators alike.
“This has been a long time coming and we are happy to see that finally, something is being done to protect our operators from unprovoked assaults,” said SMART General Chairman James A Williams. “This is a great first step and we will have to wait to see how they perform on the road and to hear the feedback from our operators.”
“I am generally pleased with the design because it finally provides some sort of protection for our operators,” said SMART Local 1564 Chairman Ulysses “Butch” Johnson, in a letter to his members on March 10th.
The SMART Transportation Division believes that these barriers can be part of greater security changes needed at LA Metro. “More can and must be done to provide greater security on the bus and rail. We are eagerly awaiting recommendations from the Ad-Hoc Transit Policing Committee at Metro. Our operators are hoping to see a greater police presence whether it’s from the LASD, LAPD, or Metro Transit Security so that our operators and our passengers can feel safe on our transportation system,” said General Chairman James Williams.
The General Committee of Adjustment 875 of the SMART Transportation Division is the collective bargaining unit for and represents the over 5000 Bus and Rail Operators for the LACMTA.
To the Members of SMART Local 1563
Robert Gonzalez, Chairman Local 1563
I want to thank the members of Local 1563 for their overwhelming support and vote of confidence in the last election. The last four years have been difficult and together, we were able to weather the storm and come out on the other side stronger.
Since being re-elected we have been busy doing the good work on behalf of this membership. I have spent many productive hours teaching and training our new Vice Local Chairman Robert Watson and Secretary to the Local Committee Henry Madrid. I have been able to share my years of knowledge and experience so that they may better serve the hardworking members of Local 1563.
We are already seeing the benefits of our new contract in action. The elimination of the two tier system was a big victory and our members are already seeing larger pay checks that they so truly deserve. The new work rules have also allowed us to combat the over reach of management. These rules have allowed us to appeal and fight false charges against our operators so that nearly 70% of the cases have been simply withdrawn by management. No contract is perfect though and we will use the next two years to learn what we have gained and improve on those gains in the next go around.
In this next year, I want to spend greater time with the Operators of Divisions 1, 2, and 9. At least once a month, I plan to spend a day in each division to answer questions, hear from the members and educate our members on our contract. I would also like to teach operators on the best ways to fill out accident reports, so that we have the best chance to appeal and fight any cases that come our way.
I am excited about the future of our Union. I am humbled and honored to be allowed to represent the hard working operators of Local 1563 and I look forward to earning your trust over the next three years.
In Solidarity,
Robert Gonzalez
Chairman, Local 1563
Photo Gallery: Phil Washington Press Conference
The media gathers to see the announcement of a new CEO at LA Metro.
Mayor Eric Garcetti along with the five County Supervisors and the rest of the MTA Board make their way to the podium to introduce the new LA Metro CEO Phil Washington.
Mayor Garcetti Introduces Phil Washington as the new CEO of LA Metro.
Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas welcomes Phil Washington as the new CEO of LA Metro.
New MTA CEO Phil Washington addresses the media.
New MTA CEO Phil Washington addresses the media.
Art Leahy and Phil Washington pose for photos for the media.
Phil Washington and Mayor Eric Garcetti pose for photos with the media.
Phil Washington answers questions from USC Journalism Student Abby Flaxer.
Phillip A Washington to be Next CEO of LA Metro
Phillip A. Washington, the General Manager of RTD in Denver Colorado, is to be named CEO of LA Metro.
It has been reported that Mayor Eric Garcetti and the LACMTA Board will announce the hiring of Phillip A. Washington to replace Arthur Leahy as the CEO of LA Metro. Phil Washington is currently the General Manager of RTD in Denver Colorado. You can read more about Mr. Washington by following the link below.
http://www.rtd-denver.com/GeneralManager.shtml
It has been rumored that Mr. Washington was selected and settled on well before Art Leahy announced his decision to step down, putting into doubt the story that the decision was solely that of Leahy.
The MTA Board's dissatisfaction with Leahy was widely known. The Board was displeased with some executive hiring decisions made by Leahy. The MTA Board would also often clash with Leahy and Staff in open LACMTA Board meeting sessions over who was to blame for the impending operations budget short fall at the MTA.
A news conference has been tentatively planned for Thursday morning to announce the hiring of Mr. Washington.
Local 1564: Excellent Work Being Done, A Lot of Work Left to Do.
Ulysses "Butch" Johnson, Chairman, Local 1564
I would like to thank all the members of Local 1564 for their overwhelming support for myself in the last election. It is truly an honor to serve this membership and I will strive everyday to continue to earn your trust and confidence.
I would not be able to do this job alone. I have one of the best group of officers and I want to thank them all for their excellent work. I would also like to thank our Vice Local Chairman and Treasurer, Andy Carter. With his help we have been able to fight a number of arbitration cases that I am confident will result in a win for our operators. Our Board of Trustees also performed and audit of our Treasurer Andy Carter, to ensure that our members' money was being properly accounted for. Our Board of Trustees gave Andy, and his books, the seal of approval and I would like to thank the Board for their excellent work.
A lot of good work has been done, but we will continue to fight hard everyday to make the lives of our members better. In our last contract we were able to eliminate the Two Tier System so that all operators can reach the top of the pay scale. The pay increases along an operator's career path also help to recognizing our members for their seniority. In the future, I will be working to reduce the years it takes to reach the top of the scale so that our members can enjoy the fruits of their labors sooner rather than later.
I would also like for Labor and Management to have a much better working relationship and I believe the contract is helping to accomplish that goal. Progressive Discipline and a better working relationship with management, can help us to resolve cases before they even reach arbitration. This way our members get back to work quicker and Union money is not unnecessarily wasted on lawyers and arbitrators.
Along with greater work protections, I would also like to see greater physical protections for our members. I had a opportunity to view a new prototype of a protective barrier that will be installed on the buses soon. I am generally pleased with the design because it finally provides some sort of protection for our operators. I have been lobbying management aggressively to get theses barriers installed at Divisions 5 and 18 as soon as possible. I am eager to see how they perform and what our members' experiences with them is like.
Finally I would like to see a greater involvement and attendance at our union meetings. This is not my Local. This is our Local. Our strength is our members. It is only with the participation of our members that we make this Union better.
It is an honor to serve and represent the hard working members of Local 1564 and I thank you all for your continued support.
In Solidarity
Ulysses “Butch” Johnson
Chairman Local 1564
Justice is Served for Bus Operator's Murder
Anthony Craig Chambers 2012 booking photo.
On Wednesday March 4th, Anthony Craig Chambers was sentenced to 25 years to Life for the murder of 51 year old Alan Thomas , a UTU Member and LACMTA employee, while in the performance of his duties on May 20, 2012. On that morning, Chambers allowed two other buses to pass the stop he was waiting at on Santa Monica Blvd. before entering Thomas' bus as he left a layover on Line 105. Shortly after entering the bus, Chambers pulled a shotgun from a case and shot Thomas. Chambers exited the bus from a rear window, where he waited for sheriffs deputies and was arrested without a struggle. Original news reports from that day can be viewed below.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/21/allen-thomas-dead_n_1533212.html
Chambers was found guilty of the crime last March but an insanity plea from Chambers lawyers lead to a nearly year long sentencing phase. In a show of solidarity, a number of SMART Transportation members were on hand to witness the sentencing.
“We are gratified that justice has finally been served, but more need to be done to provide safety and security for our operators.” said SMART Transportation General Chairman James Williams.
Later today, the LACMTA will be presenting a bus for inspection at the SMART Transportation union offices in Irwindale, CA, that has been equipped with a new protective barrier system. This will be a pilot program set be tested on a number of buses in preparation for a wider release or modification to the barrier system. Also on the agenda at the MTA Board are new policing procedures and policies designed to make the riding and operating on the system safer.
From the Alliance for Retired Americans
For Immediate Release
February 20, 2015
Contact: David Blank – 202/637-5275 or dblank@retiredamericans.org
Retirees Visit More than 120 Members of Congress with Retirement Security Message
TPP, Social Security Disability Insurance and Medicare Cuts also discussed
Washington, DC - Members of the Alliance for Retired Americans are expressing their views at more than 120 meetings with members of Congress and staff this week as elected officials returned to their districts during the Presidents Day recess.
“Under the new 114th Congress, retirees issues are once again under attack from many directions including proposed trade agreements, Social Security and Medicare,” said Richard Fiesta, executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans. “Social Security and Medicare belong to the people who have worked their entire lives to contribute and sustain the programs. Social Security is not responsible for the federal deficit and cutting it will not resolve America’s budgetary problems.”
The retirees are deeply concerned about the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement and the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) proposal, also known as “fast track.” TPP has provisions that would impact prescription drug pricing, including patent extensions for biologics and medical devices. In addition, TPP could interfere with the government’s ability to list and price prescription drugs and would allow pharmaceutical companies to challenge drug prices in public programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and the Veterans Administration. The Alliance is urging members to oppose the TPA, which is likely to be voted on by the Senate first.
Also concerning Alliance members are new rules for governing passed by the House Republicans, which included a provision prohibiting members from offering proposals to reallocate funds to the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) fund. Without reallocation – which has been done 11 times in the past under both Republican and Democratic administrations - the SSDI program will become insolvent in 2016 and disabled beneficiaries will see a 20% cut in their benefits. Legislation is also expected to create a Social Security Commission, which would recommend cuts to the program that provides the majority of retirement income to 65% of seniors. Retirees are responding that Social Security should not be discussed in the context of the deficit. It is a self-funded program that Congress should strengthen and expand.
This year is the 50th Anniversary of the Medicare program, and retirees are also reminding members of Congress of the continued importance of the program. National health expenditures grew at an annual rate of 3.7% in 2012, marking the fourth consecutive year of low growth. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that the slowdown in the growth of Medicare spending will likely continue for the next 25 years.
Still, many in Congress continue to call for Medicare benefit cuts. These include turning Medicare into a voucher program, raising the age of eligibility, means testing benefits, requiring home health co-pays, limiting Medigap coverage and restructuring or redesigning Medicare. Unfortunately, these Medicare cuts would do nothing to reduce the cost of health care, but instead, shift costs on to beneficiaries.
Rep. Janice Hahn to Run For LA Supervisor
Rep. Janice Hahn announced on Tuesday that she will run for the LA County Board of Supervisors seat, being vacated by termed out Supervisor Don Knabe, instead of running for re-election to Congress in 2016. County Supervisors hold powerful seats on the LACMTA Board and the decisions they make effect our members every day.
Janice Hahn brings a lot of name recognition to this campaign. Her father, Kenneth Hahn, served for 40 years on the LA County Board and is credited for, among other things, bringing the Dodgers to Los Angeles. Her brother James Hahn is a former Mayor of Los Angeles and is currently a Superior Court Judge. Janice Hahn served on the LA City Council before being elected to congress in a 2011 special election. Although her personal history and resume will make her an early favorite, she joins an already crowded field of nearly 20 potential candidates.
You can read more about her legislative agenda and history on her congressional website http://hahn.house.gov/. Your General Committee will be following the events of this election and keep you up to date on the issues at the LACMTA Board.
Union Benefits for the New Years Resolutions
http://smart-union.org/news/smart-members-get-10-percent-off-golds-gym-memberships/
How are your New Year’s resolutions going so far? We’re here to offer a hand. We partnering with well-known health and exercise organizations to help you reach and maintain your goals (and save you some money in the process).
Our first agreement is with participating Gold’s Gyms nationwide. They are offering any member of SMART (and family members living in the same household) approximately 10% off membership dues. All you have to do is show your SMART dues receipt when you sign up. We have provided a list of participating gyms here.
Gold’s Gym is offering SMART members a special $1 only to join from February 8th – 14th. If you do not see a gym in your area, please contact SMOHIT for help finding a facility near you. SMOHIT is also in negotiations with other health and fitness organizations to offer you similar discounts. Stay tuned for future announcements!
Secretary of Labor Union Membership Report
http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/opa/OPA20150125.htm
News Release
OPA News Release: [01/23/2015]
Contact Name: Jason Kuruvilla
Phone Number: (202) 693-6587
Email: Kuruvilla.Jason@dol.gov
Release Number: 15-0125-NAT
Statement by US Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez
on the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2014 Union Membership Report
WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement on the department's Bureau of Labor Statistics report released today on union membership in 2014:
"Today's report confirms what we've always known: that belonging to a union makes a powerful difference in people's lives, providing greater economic security and helping them punch their ticket to the middle class.
"The 2014 BLS data show that among wage and salary workers, those in a union have median weekly earnings of $970, compared to $763 for those not in a union. That's not pocket change — it amounts to greater than $10,000 a year more for union members. There is also a smaller gender pay gap for unionized workers — women who are in a union come closer to parity with their male counterparts than do non-union women. The report also finds that the union membership rate was 11.1 percent last year, 35.7 percent for public-sector workers.
"The economy is resurgent, with an unemployment rate well below 6 percent and job growth we haven't experienced since the late 1990's. The challenge we face now is creating shared prosperity, ensuring that our growing economy works for everyone. To do that, we need to turn up the volume on worker voice.
"There is a direct link throughout American history between the strength of the middle class and the vitality of the labor movement. It's not a coincidence. When unions are strong, working families thrive, with wages and productivity rising in tandem. But when the percentage of people represented by unions is low, there is downward pressure on wages and the middle class takes it on the chin.
"President Obama said in the State of the Union that middle-class economics requires 'laws that strengthen rather than weaken unions, and give workers a voice.' That means protecting and strengthening collective bargaining rights, and it also means exploring new organizing strategies and other innovative approaches to empowering workers in a modern economy.
"Across the country at the grass-roots level, workers and their advocates are doing just that. Whether it's auto workers emulating the German works council model, or the dynamic movement of fast-food workers seeking a raise, or efforts by taxi drivers and home health care workers to stand up for their rights, we are seeing more people seeking creative ways to make their voices heard.
"Doing so can and must be done in collaboration with employers. We reject the old false choice and zero-sum thinking — the kind that suggests either workers or their employers can thrive, but not both. Unions succeed not at the expense of business, but in partnership with business. Forward-looking employers recognize that they can give their workers a voice while giving their bottom line a boost.
"To maintain robust economic growth, to create more shared prosperity and a better life for millions of middle-class families, we need full-throated worker voice."
A New Year for SMART Transportation
To My Union Brothers and Sisters,
I would like to wish all of you a happy and healthy New Year. 2014 was a big year for this union and 2015 is shaping up to be another big one, with changes in store for this General Committee and the MTA.
First I would like to congratulate our new Local Chairman of Local 1565 Marco Gudino. I am excited to see what leadership and enthusiasm he brings to representing his local in this General Committee.
This year started will start off with new people at the MTA. The first big news was the election of Supervisors Sheila Kuehl and Hilda Solis. There will also be a third fresh face on the board with the appointment of Mayor James T Butts of Inglewood. He replaces long time board member Mayor Pam O’Conner of Santa Monica. Not much is known of Mayor Butts predisposition to labor or the protection and expansion of the LACMTA, but we believe there are areas of agreement to make work conditions better for the membership. All of this was followed by the resignation announcement of MTA CEO Art Leahy and Interim COO Bill Foster. Speculation is abound and we will closely follow any news on their replacements, but the bottom line is we won’t know until the MTA announces.
No matter who fills the seats we believe we are well positioned to make massive changes on a top priority of mine. Following a couple of high profile cases of operator assault, operator safety is an issue that is fresh in the minds of high level staff and board members at the MTA. You may have already seen some changes. Video monitors have been installed and are scheduled to be installed on 150 more new busses. A pilot program was also announced to install and track the progress of a new protective barriers for motor coach operators. We are also hoping to announce soon a committee made up of Union and MTA Staff representatives dedicated to the task of operator safety. All ideas and initiatives on the subject will run through this committee so that the best and most effective ideas can be presented to the MTA board for approval. If you have any ideas please don’t hesitate to give them to your Local Chairs.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced last year, new regulatory powers it and the Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) have in the area of Safety and Security over local transit agencies. Along with the new oversight comes federally funded pilot programs and information sharing from across the country. We are determined to push the MTA to seek out any and all opportunities that can bring about best practices and federal dollars to implement new tools to keep our operators safe.
I am extremely optimistic for the prospects of this union in the New Year. With a new contract ensuring work protections and career growth as well as changes to operator safety, this is shaping up to be a very good year for this union and its members. United as one there is nothing we cannot achieve.
In Solidarity,
James A Williams
Operator Assault on Line 108
On January 14 at 11:38 AM, a bus operator on Bus Line 108 was assaulted at the corners of Slauson and Western Avenues in the City of Los Angeles. Two Suspects pulled alongside an LA Metro Bus in Toyota and threatened the operator. When the bus pulled into the next stop, the passenger, “suspect two” exited the Toyota, opened the operator’s window and stabbed the operator in the arm with a screwdriver. The operator received a minor cut a refused treatment at that time.
A Transit Policing Division Sheriff found and arrested the driver, "suspect one" of the Toyota for “Criminal Threats” and “Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Bus Operator.” The second suspect is named but is still at large.
Texas Short Line Workers Vote to Join SMART
http://smart-union.org/news/texas-short-line-workers-vote-join-smart/
Train and engine-service employees at the Alliance Terminal Railroad LLC have voted in favor of being represented by SMART. The National Mediation Board certified the election results on December 30. Owned by OmniTRAX Inc. and based in Haslet, Texas, Alliance Terminal Railroad is responsible for switching and operations at BNSF Railway Co.’s Alliance Intermodal Facility near Dallas/Fort Worth. Formed in 2004, the short line interchanges with BNSF.
LACMTA CEO Art Leahy Resignation Letter
SMART Members Journal for November and December
http://digitaledition.themosaicteam.com/publication/?i=237747
Bus Operator Battery Case to Proceed to Trial
The case against Geovanny Falcon, the man currently in custody for the assault and battery of a bus operator in November, is moving forward to trial. GCA 875 had communicated to the District Attorney’s Office the desire for a maximum sentence against Mr. Falcon and that is what is currently under way. Mr. Falcon will be arraigned on December 26 for the crime of PC 245.2 (battery against a transportation operator) which carriers a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison. Pre-trial dates will be selected for early January.
Deputy District Attorney Kirsten Brown has been in constant communication with the Union on the proceedings. DDA Brown and the DA’s Office is aware of the membership’s interest in the proceedings and desire to see this man behind bars.
"Our office is definitely taking this seriously", said DDA Brown.
Credit Card Company Preying on Union Members
http://smart-union.org/news/cosumer-alert-cfpb-sues-sham-union-credit-card-company-deceptive-practices/
CONSUMER ALERT: CFPB SUES FAKE UNION CREDIT CARD COMPANY FOR DECEPTIVE PRACTICES
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ) is suing a Texas-based company, Union Workers Credit Services, for deceiving consumers into paying fees to sign up for a sham credit card. The Bureau alleges that the company falsely advertises a general-use credit card that, in actuality, can only be used to buy products from the company. Union Workers Credit Services also deceptively implies an affiliation with unions by, among other things, using pictures of nurses, firefighters, and other public servants in its advertising.
Despite their name, Union Workers Credit Services is not union affiliated, but they have been preying on union members. Please spread word about this to your fellow members.
SMART Union News
http://smart-union.org/news/local-137-members-light-times-square/
LOCAL 137 MEMBERS LIGHT UP TIMES SQUARE
Members of Sheet Metal Local 137 in New York City are known for their expertise when it comes to keeping the city lit up—dazzling generations of tourists and New Yorkers with the Big Apple’s bright lights and giant billboards. Now they can add another notch to their belt with what may be the world’s largest video display, built in the heart of Times Square (aka the crossroads of the World) at the Marriott Marquis Hotel on the corner of Broadway and 45th Street.
The project, requiring in excess of 20 members working non-stop through the better part of 2014, required the old staging and steel to be replaced with the new gigantic video display measuring over 25,600 square feet (77.69 feet high x 329.65 feet wide). Once complete, the sign will adorn the façade of the hotel with the types of messages and advertisements found throughout the rest of Times Square.
Local 137 signatory North Shore Neon Sign, Inc. is the contractor on the project. Their motto “We Hang to Live” is a tongue and cheek take on the company’s 50-year tradition of designing and hanging signs for customers in Times Square and all across the New York metropolitan area—all of which has been done in partnership with the men and women of Local 137. According to Local 137 Business Manager Dante Dano, “If you are a contractor or business who wants to break records and stand out from the crowd, you need to surround yourself with extraordinary people. That’s what these members are. Once again, they make me proud to represent them.”
Allan Anderson, Local 137’s Vice President, has been the foreman on the Marriott Marquis Hotel job since the beginning. According to Anderson, “If it were not for the skilled craftspeople in our steel shop and sheet metal shops, the installers would not have had product to install. It was the biggest installation of a single screen I have been involved with in my career. And I am very proud of all my brothers and sisters involved with this project.”
The New York sign industry is currently undergoing a revitalization with the upsurge in the U.S. economy, bringing tourism and advertising dollars back to the city. The first tenant in the World Trade Center, Condé Nast, has already moved in, and members of Local 137 were there to install the signs and visual displays for the publishing company. Brookfield Properties, a major worldwide developer with billions of dollars of new development in New York City, recently signed a 20-year agreement to install signs on all their New York area properties with the help of Local 137 members.
Local 137 members are known for one more thing as well. Every year, millions of Americans across the country and in Times Square ring in the New Year by watching the New Year’s Ball lowered in Times Square. The next time you watch it, remember that the people behind the design, fabrication, installation, and operation of the Times Square Ball are none other than your brothers and sisters from Local 137.
SMART Union News
http://smart-union.org/news/previsich-testifies-senators-passenger-rail/
PREVISICH TESTIFIES BEFORE SENATORS ON PASSENGER RAIL
SMART Transportation Division President John Previsich testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation’s Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security Dec. 10 at the Russell Senate Office Building.
The hearing focused on the current state of intercity passenger rail in the United States, the need to invest for future growth and implications for future legislative action. It was presided over by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), chairman of the subcommittee.
Previsich called on the committee and Congress as a whole to present a long-term vision for passenger rail that includes predictable, dedicated sources of funding.
“Public investment in our nation’s passenger rail system is truly an investment in our nation’s future. Passenger rail is a critical part of our national transportation infrastructure, an important driver of our national and regional economies, and is a middle-class job creator,” Previsich said.
“I can speak to this matter from personal experience. In my capacity as a union representative, I have been involved on passenger rail properties from coast to coast that have leveraged various forms of public funding to provide excellent quality service to the communities through which they operate.
“In my home state of California, I have watched Caltrain in the San Francisco Bay Area leverage a combination of local and federal funding to revitalize the service and move from a low of 5,500 boardings per day when operated by a private enterprise to the current figure of over 53,000 boardings per day.
“In my home county of Santa Cruz, Calif., a planning process is already underway to identify transit corridors that will reduce the number of daily auto trips, decrease our use of fossil fuels and promote more affordable housing. All across America, communities are relying on transit funding to invest in strategic planning that will pay back the investment many times over through job creation, community stimulus, an increased tax base and better utilization of local resources.
“It is important to note that for more than 100 years prior to the creation of Amtrak, passenger rail service was provided by private railroads. For at least 40 years prior to public funding, the private rail carriers were unable to provide passenger rail service without sustaining significant financial losses. It was because private operators were unable to continue to provide that service without sustaining huge losses that Amtrak was formed.
“Amtrak was created to save rail passenger service in America, but it must be remembered that the creation of Amtrak was also intended to save our freight rail industry from economic ruin. America’s railroads were losing $1 billion per year providing passenger service just prior to the creation of Amtrak. That is $10 billion in today’s dollars. Had Amtrak not been established, America’s rail system would have financially collapsed.
“Today, Americans support and want more passenger rail. Amtrak has set ridership records in 10 of the last 11 years and polling that our union has commissioned throughout the country shows overwhelming support for more service and increased funding for Amtrak. This is not a partisan issue – our polls show that Democrats and Republicans in red states and blue all strongly support continued and improved Amtrak service.
“Unfortunately, this comes at a time when inadequate federal funding has caused our nation’s passenger rail system to age and deteriorate. As Amtrak’s annual budget requests have established, its aging fleet needs replacing and the system needs significant renovations to tracks, bridges, tunnels and other infrastructure. Meanwhile, the rest of the world – most notably China – is investing heavily in modern and efficient passenger rail infrastructure, leaving American competitiveness, and American workers, further and further behind.
“Earlier this year, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee reported out the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act (PRRIA) of 2014. My union, as well as other rail labor unions, supported this measure and applauded the bipartisan nature of the proposal. The four-year bill does many important things that will help strengthen our national passenger rail network. However, it does not provide Amtrak with the funding levels required to meet the needs of an aging system. Most of all, it does not establish a predictable, dedicated funding source so Amtrak and our communities can adequately plan for future investments.
“The last passenger rail reauthorization – PRIIA, signed into law by President Bush in 2008 – was bipartisan and provided realistic, multi-year funding levels for Amtrak, and resisted efforts to recklessly privatize. In fact, the privatization pilot projects that were included in PRIIA received virtually no private sector interest. Permitting private companies to seize routes is a recipe for ending Amtrak service across the country and would give investors the green light to profit from assets paid for over decades by the American taxpayer and rail passengers.
“The next passenger rail reauthorization should build on the framework established by PRIIA 2008. It should include dedicated, adequate funding to upgrade and operate the Northeast Corridor and to operate the regional and long-distance trains that make up our national system.
“I want to emphasize one point. Our union is not opposed to private enterprise. The bulk of our membership works for privately held freight railroads and overall we have good relationships with those companies.
“But the facts are, Amtrak has partnered with our private freight railroads and has negotiated operating agreements with them for more than 40 years. Amtrak’s employees, many of whom are federally certified, know and understand the complex operating rules that govern freight railroads, making Amtrak the right fit to operate this vital nation-wide service.
“Reauthorization must also protect the rights, jobs and wages of workers. Labor protections provided for in PRIIA should be updated to ensure they apply to all rail workers when federal funds are used. In addition, it must ensure that there is a level playing field for all competitors and that rail workers are covered under the appropriate rail and labor statutes including the Railroad Retirement Act, the Railway Labor Act and Federal Employers’ Liability Act.
“Allowing employers, oftentimes foreign corporations, to circumvent U.S. labor laws or to undercut wages and benefits, and then claim the private sector is more efficient or profitable, is a game that must not be played. If we are serious about having a first-class rail system, it must be one that creates and sustains middle class jobs.
“Passenger rail reauthorization is an opportunity to make needed investments in a critical segment of our transportation system.
“I look forward to working with the members of this Committee on the timely passage of a bill that establishes dedicated long-term passenger rail funding, supports the jobs and rights of our skilled and dedicated rail employees, rejects unwanted and ill-advised privatization proposals and lays out a national rail policy that is integrated with America’s multi-modal transportation needs.”