Amtrak service workers protest dining car cuts

Amtrak service workers on Wednesday protested cuts in dining car service, demanding restoration of jobs and service. “Maintaining current high-quality service for passengers on Amtrak is essential to our members’ livelihoods,” said Transport Workers Union Vice President and Railroad Division Director John Feltz. The demonstration outside Union Station, where the Amtrak board of directors was meeting, was organized by the Amtrak Service Workers Council, which consists of the three unions that represent Amtrak service workers: The Transport Workers Union of America (TWU), UNITE-HERE and TCU-IAM. “Passengers deserve more than a cold, boxed lunch,” said TWU Local 1460  President Amy Griffin. “They deserve respect and a hot meal.” Dining car service was cut from two long-distance lines, the Capitol Limited and Lake Shore Limited, on June 1.

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