Amtrak says labor talks will resume next week

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2008/01/11/amtrak_says_labor_talks_will_resume_next_week/

January 11, 2008

WASHINGTON—Amtrak plans to resume negotiations with nine unions next week to avoid a crippling strike.
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The national passenger railroad could face a walkout as early as January 30th unless it reaches an agreement with the unions or Congress intervenes.

There has never been a strike at Amtrak, and both Amtrak and union officials say they don't believe it will come to that.

If it did occur, a strike would hamper the operations of many commuter lines that rely on Amtrak infrastructure.

The talks affect about 10,000 Amtrak employees, who have been working under outdated contracts since 2000.

Under the Railway Labor Act, the workers could not strike until federal officials determined that mediation had been unsuccessful.