December 12, 2007 - The second day of Amtrak Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) hearings began with the carrier resuming its presentation to the Board.
Amtrak’s Chief Operating Officer, William Crosbie, continued the carrier’s plea of poverty as a reason for rejecting the Union Coalition’s reasonable arguments for retroactive pay and job security. The Coalition includes the Machinists Union, Transportation Communications Union, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Transport Workers Union.
Following the conclusion of Amtrak’s presentation it was the Unions' turn to make thier case before the Board with a detailed contractual and financial presentation. General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr., District 19 President and Directing General Chairman Joe Duncan and District 19 General Chairman Mike Hill were present at the proceedings.
“Amtrak management found the money to award themselves pay increases over the last eight years while union workers were left out in the cold,” said General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. “Even during this season of giving, Amtrak’s greed is growing.”
“Under Amtrak’s concept of bargaining it lays out demands, never waivers, and the employees are to be punished for any delay by the unions in capitulating to those demands by forfeiting back pay,” said TCU-IAM International Vice President Joel Parker. “This position is at odds with the historical norm in rail bargaining.”
The Union will continue presenting its case on Thursday, December 13th, the final day of hearings, followed by closing arguments. The members of Presidential Emergency Board 242 are Helen M. Witt, Ira F. Jaffe, Joshua M. Javits, Annette Sandberg and Peter W. Tredick. The Board will submit settlement recommendations to President George W. Bush.
