NEW YORK — Amtrak and a major construction trade union have signed an agreement to provide a work force for projects that will be part of the passenger railroad’s expansion plans.
The Memorandum of Understanding between Amtrak and North America’s Building Trades Union (NABTU), which represents more than 3 million construction workers, will help ensure consistent pipeline of workers, along with workforce training and standards for wages, health care, and pension.
“The partnership between Amtrak and NABTU reflects a commitment to the workforce who will help build the future of our country’s rail infrastructure,” Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn said in a press release. “As the son of a frontline railroad employee, I know first-hand the hard work, dedication and value union employees bring to their job.”
NATBU president Sean McGarvey said, “Today’s agreement opens more career pathways of opportunities for our members and enables our gold-standard training model to deliver the highest quality work for Amtrak. … With this agreement, we will continue to expand our diverse workforce and strengthen the economies of more communities all across the land.”
In house of union busting by AMCRASH continues…When I hired on in 77 there were enough employees in ALL crafts to do any work needed. Not anymore. They don’t give a rats ass about the RR Unions and they just want to farm everything out just so they don’t have to pay the better wages and benefits the Union have now.
all this does is insure that all projects will cost 3 to 4 times as much as they would anywhere else in the world
Actually trade Unions are prevalent in “most of the world” and aren’t the reason for high cost of construction projects in the U.S It’s usually bad management and environmental issues that run the cost up. Unfortunately the common theme here in this country is to always blame everything on Union working men and women who only expect a fair wage and benefits and safe working condition conditions for a job well done. Not to much to ask I don’t think. Especially with the millions made on projects by the owners of the construction companies and consultants. Retired and proud IBEW member.
I am a life union member, you have no clue bout the mafia controlled construction unions and the law that requires highest wage requirement for all state funded jobs REALLY and they called us railroaders featherbedders
NABTU is actually a consortium of 14 Unions representing diverse building trades, each with its own field of specialization. NABTU has a plan for resolving jurisdictional disputes among its components and the employers.
NABTU is also involved in a BA in Construction Management program at Rowan University in Glassboro NJ, not far from Amtrak’s NEC (NY-WAS).