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Railroads Get Shortchanged

May 2002 IBEW Journal

In a March appearance on Capitol Hill, AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department Executive Director Edward Wytkind urged legislators to invest in the long-term viability of Amtrak. No other segment of Americas transportation system is forced to meet its capital and operating needs without substantial government assistance. Congress must put an end to this double standard.

Wytkind spoke for the 34 affiliated transportation unions in the federation, including the 12 rail unions representing most of Amtraks 25,000 employees in the heavily unionized industry. He said continued neglect has contributed to Amtraks significant debt load, millions of dollars in deferred capital and maintenance, a $5.8 billion capital backlog built up over 30 years of under-investment and unmet security needs. The Transportation Trades Department director criticized the glide-path to self-sufficiency, the five-year plan that he said has strangled Amtrak operations and denied Amtrak workers job security and fair wages.

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All Aboard | Railroads Get Shortchanged | IBEW's Stake in the Fight
Proposals on Capital Hill | Railroad Retirement Ramifications