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Jan 6, 2008 7:06 am US/Eastern
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Official: Amtrak Strike Would Close Penn Station
Workers May Walk Out As Early As Jan. 30 At 12:01 a.m.
MINEOLA (CBS) ―
Amtrak workers are threatening to strike. The railroad and its unions are struggling to reach new labor agreements. Workers could walk off the job at the end of January.
If that happens, rail lines across the country could be crippled, and Penn Station in Manhattan would be forced to close.
Rush hour commuters were beside themselves Friday when CBS 2 HD gave them word of the breaking news out of Washington that could paralyze rail traffic, and close Penn Station, which is used by half a million Long Island Rail Road, NJ Transit and Amtrak passengers each day.
"I don't really think you can go on strike against the public good so I think it would absolutely ludicrous, in violation of the law, and they should all be locked up," LIRR rider Jack Sullivan said.
Added fellow LIRR commuter Tiesha Smith: "I hope they're not to strike 'cause I need my transportation back and forth to work. I live in Huntington."
After years without a contract, eight unions representing Amtrak maintenance workers and dispatchers could stage the first strike in the railroad's history, as early as Jan. 30.
Not everyone CBS 2 HD spoke to was ready to crucify the workers.
"Workers rights are important -- workers should be allowed to strike," one commuter said. "They deserve to strike. They're probably not getting paid enough."
President Bush has appointed an emergency board to help negotiate a labor agreement and a cooling off period was ordered. But if Congress doesn't step in Amtrak workers could walk off the job -- or be locked out – shuttering Penn Station and creating commuter chaos.
LIRR president Helena Williams is preparing – just in case.
"If there is a strike Penn Station will be closed," Williams said. "We will have to relocate those passengers to other stations in order to get to their final destinations. We will have to use Brooklyn, Jamaica Station and Woodside."
Subway service would not be affected.
This is all just a little more than three weeks away, but Amtrak tells CBS 2 HD it is hopeful for a settlement.
Amtrak and union leaders say the main sticking points are over retroactive wage hikes and work rule reform.
The earliest a strike could be called is 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 30.
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