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Amtrak Board Cut Amidst Dispute Over Funding August 9, 2004 Disputes over Amtraks budget have become as regular as the seasons. As the Bush administration and Congress feud over Amtraks funding, unfilled vacancies on the Board of Directors of the National Railroad Passenger Corp. (Amtrak) add to potential problems for workers, including 1,300 IBEW members. Amtraks President, David L. Gunn, has requested $1.8 billion from Congress to operate and maintain the railroad in 2004. He says: "Were approaching a moment of truth for Amtrak," calling attention to "physical conditions," including the need to repair bridge supports. The Bush administration is proposing that Congress limit appropriations for Amtrak to $900 million unless the corporation submits to a reorganization. The shake-up would involve severing Amtraks rail service and maintenance into separate entities and leave the future of the lines rail service to the states. Gunn says that the administrations budget constraints could shut down the railroad. Amtraks board, appointed by the President, has been reduced from seven members to two as the administration has failed to submit nominees to the Senate in a timely manner. Michael Dukakis, the former governor of Massachusetts, left the board in June 2003. He contends that it is important for a full board to be in place to allow for diverse voices to help solve the railroads problems. The current board consists of two voting members and Gunn, who has no voting rights. Dukakis told the Washington Post: "To permit a situation to deteriorate to the point where you end up with the board consisting of the secretary of transportations designee and one appointee of the administration is just irresponsible, in my opinion," says Dukakis. Some are concerned that the reductions of the board could lead to a situation where a few appointees of President Bush could independently impose a restructuring of U.S. rail passenger service. The administrations irresponsibility is not lost on Amtraks workers who have been working without a contract since 1988. Ray Cobb, Director of the Railroad Department of the IBEW says: "I am requesting that our Amtrak and Freight Rail members contact their members of Congress and ask them to support Amtrak President David Gunns request for $1.8 billion to operate and maintain the passenger service in this country. Your assistance is greatly appreciated."
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