The union representing Amtrak signal workers accused railroad officials of using delaying tactics to prevent movement on stalled contractnegotiations.
“We haven?t had a wage increase in seven years,” James York, general chairman of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, said Wednesday.
“Amtrak refused to negotiate in good faith. All they want is work rule changes.”
The union and Amtrak are in mediation, but York said there has been no movement to declare a stalemate allowing the union to go on strike.
“We are in mediation. We have requested several times to be released from mediation but it has fallen on deaf ears,” York said.
“I tell you, if a strike were called tomorrow, we would have 100 percent support.”
Amtrak officials did not return phone calls for comment.
York said Amtrak wants to contract out the work handled by signalmen.
York added that Amtrak officials wants to require signalmen to work a 40-hour week before overtime pay kicks in instead of paying signalmen overtime if they work more than eight hours in one day.
Signalmen would also have their workweek broken up instead of working five consecutive days as they do now, according to work rule changes proposed by Amtrak officials, York said.
York said the union has consistently offered its support to lobby Congress for increased funding for Amtrak.
