The Following is a Statement on Behalf of the Passenger Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition From Its Chairman, W. Dan Pickett, President of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen

To: TRANSPORTATION EDITORS

Contact: David White of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, +1-202-624-8730, dwhite@teamster.org, for the Passenger Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition

WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — A Presidential Emergency Board has been created today to address contract disputes between Amtrak and affiliates of the Passenger Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition (PRLBC), which includes the American Train Dispatchers Association; Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen; Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the Teamsters Rail Conference; and the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers of the Service Employees International Union.

The coalition is cooperating with another group representing shopcraft employees represented by the International Association of Machinists, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Joint Council of Carmen, consisting of the Transportation Communications International Union and the Transport Workers Union.

Together the PRLBC and the shopcraft coalition represent more than 6,000 of Amtraks non-operating employees.

We look forward to presenting a coordinated position to the Presidential Emergency Board in an effort to obtain a recommendation of a fair and equitable settlement for employees who have helped Amtrak achieve unprecedented ridership and revenue levels.

The dispute between Amtrak and its unions has been ongoing for nearly eight years, and we look forward to a resolution that recognizes the contributions of the hardworking employees of Amtrak.

SOURCE Passenger Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition

(c) 2007 U.S. Newswire. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.