French-owned Keolis Rail Services has agreed to recognize the United Transportation Union as the collective bargaining agent for some 30 conductors and assistant conductors who will operate Virginia Railway Express (VRE) commuter trains later this summer.
VRE signed a five-year, $85-million contract in 2009 with Keolis to replace Amtrak as VRE's operator of commuter trains between Northern Virginia suburbs and Washington, D.C.
Amtrak has operated the service over host CSX and Norfolk Southern tracks for some 17 years since VRE's creation as a commuter railroad.
It will be Keolis' first venture into U.S. rail contract operations, and already Keolis stumbled unable to implement operations June 28 as intended by VRE, with Amtrak agreeing to remain as the operating railroad until Keolis is able to take over.
UTU General Chairperson Roger Lenfest (GO 769) said his negotiating committee "has met several times" with Keolis to finalize an agreement covering wages, benefits and working conditions. "Some of the issues to be resolved," Lenfest said, "include the term of the contract, wages, employee health care insurance contributions and a Keolis contribution to a qualified 401(k) retirement plan."
According to news reports, all but one Amtrak employee working VRE trains chose to remain with Amtrak, forcing Keolis to hire and train new conductors, assistant conductors and engineers for the VRE operation.
Keolis also has recognized the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen as the bargaining representative for the craft of engineer. The BLET is also negotiating a contract with Keolis.
