A tentative rail labor agreement was reached Thursday, which averted a strike that would have otherwise impacted train commuters and supply chains throughout San Diego County.
Of the 12 unions, nine had agreed to tentative deals as of Wednesday while the others remained at the bargaining table.
“We are hopeful that a resolution will be reached prior to Thursday but as the parties have not yet reached an agreement, we are doing everything we can to notify our customers and provide alternate service options if the rail service is interrupted,'' Jason Jewell, interim Managing Director of the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency said on Wednesday. "We have closely coordinated with Amtrak and Metrolink to maximize service options for our customers including providing bus bridges where possible.''
President Joe Biden said the tentative agreement is “an important win for our economy and the American People. It is a win for tens of thousands of rail workers who worked tirelessly through the pandemic to ensure that America’s families and communities got deliveries of what has kept us going during these difficult years.”
Amtrack was bracing for potential large-scale disruption due to a looming nationwide rail strike that was set to begin at midnight on Friday. According to the Biden administration, the rail workers “will get better pay, improved working conditions, and peace of mind around their health care costs: all hard-earned”.
The Biden Administration also said that the tentative agreement is “also a victory for railway companies who will be able to retain and recruit more workers for an industry that will continue to be part of the backbone of the American economy for decades to come”.
Following the Biden Administration's announcement, Amtrack CEO Stephen Gardner wrote that "this tentative agreement will keep our trains moving, stations bustling, and employees proudly serving customers as we move them across this great country, stimulating local economies in more than 500 communities we serve.”
Metrolink and Amtrak are not directly involved in the negotiations, but a strike would have an impact on service.
A full list of possible Metrolink cancellations is available at https://bit.ly/3eSJNNn.
Amtrak announced that it was preparing to cancel long-distance trains beginning Thursday, including routes beginning in Chicago, Seattle, and New Orleans with a final destination in Los Angeles.
