Amtrak Strike May Force Travelers to Consider Other Transportation

According to The New York Sun, “Nine separate labor unions representing Amtrak workers are threatening to strike as early as January 30, following a 30-day cooling-off period.  The unions are demanding higher wages through retroactive pay for the eight years they have worked without a new contract.” 
 

Many of those who rely on Amtrak for long-distance transportation do not have a vehicle of their own, so a strike by the rail carrier may force travelers to consider other transportation options like automobile rentals.  And when you are going to travel by car, why not travel in style?  Elite car rental businesses like DFW Elite Auto Rental in the Dallas – Fort Worth area are becoming a popular alternative to owning a car.  After all, you’d have to have a pretty large bankroll to finance a Bentley, but renting an elite sports car allows you to have all of the joys of ownership with none of the hassle.  For those who really enjoy the thrill of the road, there are options like DFW Elite Car Club and DFW Drive Your Dream.

The strike hasn’t happened yet, but in an agreement isn’t reached before the end of January, Amtrak will be forced to weather the first strike in its 36-year history.  Newsday reported on the labor dispute, saying, “On Dec. 1, President Bush empanelled the five-person Presidential Emergency Board to investigate the contract dispute between Amtrak and nine unions representing such craft workers as signalmen, maintenance workers, firemen and oilers. The report, released Thursday by the White House, recommends that Amtrak employees receive back wages and pay increases and that there be no substantive work rule changes.”

Amtrak officials report that the company would like to meet demands but has major concerns about the increased cost.  In 1997, the last time a similar strike seemed imminent, union officials allowed workers to cross picket lines in order to avoid an interruption in service.  The strike was eventually averted, but workers have been on the job for eight years without a new contract.

If the strike does occur, it could spell major trouble for Penn Station.  Penn Station is used by over 500,000 Amtrak passengers, as well as Long Island Railroad and New Jersey Transit customers.

Kate Miller-Wilson is a freelance writer living in the Twin Cities.  Visit her website or email her for information about her freelance writing services. See more stories by Kate on our exotic car rental news pages.