On May 28 and June 18, the Railroad Division ratified two unprecedented contracts with Amtrak after less than five months of negotiating. The swiftness in reaching these agreements and provisions included within are record breaking considering the union's history negotiating with the company, and in comparison with other labor agreements during these economic times.

"These agreements are a remarkable deal in this economic environment, and would be great contracts even during more prosperous times," said TWU Railroad Division Director Gary Maslanka.

That the agreements were achieved so quickly is in stark contrast to the past, when ongoing irregular and inadequate funding, along with deeply rooted political ramifications, always caused negotiations to drag on for years. The TWU was engaged in a nearly eight-year battle with Amtrak over its last agreement for Joint Council of Carmen, Coach Cleaners, and Helpers (JCC) members, which ended up before a Presidential Emergency Board in order to achieve justice for TWU members.

This year's contracts, which cover the JCC and Amtrak Service Workers Council (ASWC) members, provide 15 percent raises over 5 years, protect current health benefits, and put hard dollar caps on membership contributions, extremely important provisions given the state of the economy and the ever increasing cost of health insurance.

They also provide for minimal work rule changes, a contrast to past negotiations where carrier demands would have literally gutted agreements. Draconian rule changes were a large factor in the eight-year long negotiations that ended only less than three years ago.

"The success of these contracts is attributed to Gary Maslanka and his staff's expertise, aptitude, and keen understanding of the industry's new atmosphere, which presents unprecedented opportunities for Amtrak and TWU's potential influence on the future of rail in America," said TWU International President James C. Little.

The passenger railroad industry's new atmosphere is shaped by a federal government that understands the value and supports passenger rail investment, in contrast to past administrations' starvation budgets for Amtrak.

Having been organized by Congress and President Nixon to provide intercity passenger rail service in 1971, Amtrak has been subject to the federal government's whim since its inception. Because the U.S. President appoints the board of directors and the Senate confirms the choice, elected officials have a heavy influence on Amtrak's agenda, and the Bush Administration's plans for Amtrak were to starve its funding and drive it into the ground.

In November 2008, the month President Obama was elected, Joseph Boardman was appointed CEO and President of Amtrak. TWU immediately began cultivating a positive relationship with Boardman, and learned that Boardman seemed to have the foresight and intelligence to understand that Obama's stance on environmental responsibility, jobs, rail and labor would help to revitalize the industry. Both Boardman and Maslanka also understood that a positive labor-management relationship is absolutely essential in order to take advantage of the new opportunities for rail and to stand out against the competition.

The recent contracts with Amtrak, in addition to providing members with the fair contracts they deserve, demonstrate that Amtrak's backbone - its workers - is strong. The success of these agreements show that a productive labor-management relationship pays dividends, and add to an already compelling case for making Amtrak, America's Railroad, the carrier of choice at this time of renewed interest in passenger rail.