WASHINGTON — An official from the Transport Workers Union of America has written the Surface Transportation Board to oppose the nomination of a Metro-North Railroad executive for the STB’s new Passenger Rail Advisory Committee, citing the state of union relationships with Metro-North.
In a March 6 letter to STB Chair Martin J. Oberman, John Feltz, TWU international vice president and Rail Division director, says his union “strongly opposes” the nomination of Justin Vonashek, Metro-North’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, to the 18-member board. That group will advise the STB on passenger rail matters. The STB announced that it was seeking nominees for the board in January [see “STB seeks nominees …,” Trains News Wire, Jan. 5, 2024]. Vonashek was nominated by Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi, according to an endorsement letter by American Public Transportation Association CEO Paul P. Skoutelas.
The letter by Feltz says Metro-North’s “flagrant disregard for the well-beling of railroad workers and its repeated obligations under the Railway Labor Act should disqualify any representative from MNRR serving in this capacity,” and says that the majority of the commuter railroad’s workforce is currently working under expired contracts, and that some unions are “years beyond their contract’s expiration with almost no activity from management to find a path forward.
“Given the railroad’s clear lack of commitment to its workforce and the public, we do not believe that Mr. Vonashek, or any other representative from MNRR, would be able to provide advice in a manner consistent with the public interest.”
It appears to be the only nomination so far that has drawn opposition among the among dozens made on or before the Feb. 5 deadline.
If the TWU is correct in its assessment, Vonashek should not be put on the STB but rather Amtrak. He’d fit right in.
Sorry TWU, but disagreement and taking a hard line in union negotiations or lack there of is not a reason to disqualify an individual from an advisory board. If I was the STB I’d tell the union to stuff it and if Justin is qualified then include him in the advisory board.