Amtrak says it has reached tentative agreements on new labor contracts with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the Joint Council of Carmen, Coach Cleaner and Helpers (JCC) and the Transportation Communications International (TCU) covering the period of Jan. 1, 2010, through Jan. 1, 2015.
(The UTU in 2008 reached a new agreement with Amtrak.)
The new contracts must be ratified by the union membership and will cover electricians, machinists, carmen and coach cleaners, clerks and telegraphers.
Literally speaking, there are no telegraphers on the railroad any more, but the reference is to block operators in the few remaining wayside towers.
The IBEW, IAM, JCC and TCU are four of 14 labor organizations and joint councils representing Amtrak employees.
The tentative agreements will affect about 6,900 employees, or 40 percent of the Amtrak unionized labor force, according to Amtrak.
