Socialist Action /February 1999
Amtrak Workers Disrupt Birthday Bash
BOSTON-It isn't every day you see the Lt. Governor of Massachusetts and
the Mayor escorted from a state-sponsored public ceremony by a cordon of
tactical police officers.
That, however, is precisely what happened on Jan. 19 when a crowd of
150-200 angry Amtrak workers, threatened with the loss of their jobs, disrupted
the 100th anniversary celebration of Boston's South Station.
The demonstration was triggered by fears that some 700 Amtrak employees,
who have serviced the area's commuter railroad equipment for over 10 years
for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (M.B.T.A.), would be
laid off.
M.B.T.A. wants to eliminate Amtrak and break up the traditional "all
or nothing at all" contract to allow hand-picked private corporations
to underbid Amtrak and take on the fragmented portions of the overall commuter
rail operation.
Last fall the M.B.T.A. solicited bids for the mechanical maintenance
of their commuter rail rolling stock and facilities, which represents approximately
a third of the $150 million a year contract.
Four companies submitted bids, and M.B.T.A. officials are scheduled to
make a decision in March. But recently, officials confirmed the decision
was down to two bidders-the French company Alsthom and Bombardier of Montreal.
Some crude attempts are being made to direct the workers' discontent
and anger at the specter of "foreign companies" and "foreign
workers" trying to steal their jobs rather than at the real enemy responsible
for the threatened job losses-the bosses, the politicians, and the government
they represent.
-ART LECLAIR
Socialist Action /February 1999 |