Amtrak, NABTU Sign Workforce MOU

Amtrak and North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) have signed a workforce MOU that promotes a “pipeline of U.S. union construction workers to build and expand” passenger rail, they reported on Oct. 28.

NABTU represents more than 3 million skilled craft professionals.

The MOU with NABTU, along with its affiliates and state and local councils, sets “a model for labor-management cooperation and workforce development,” Amtrak said. “With Amtrak’s 15-year expansion strategy to create half a million jobs delivering over $150 billion in economic benefit to 160 local communities, this agreement helps ensure a consistent construction workforce pipeline, workforce training and labor standards with family-sustaining wages, healthcare benefits, and pension security.”

As part of this framework, Amtrak and its construction partners will work with NABTU to accelerate apprenticeship readiness programs, promote diversity, and ensure fair wages and benefits for the construction workforce on their projects, according to the railroad.

“We commend Amtrak for coming to the table to work in partnership with us and our membership,” said NABTU President Sean McGarvey, who also thanked Ed Wytkind, former President of the Transportation Trades Department (TTD), “for his help and support throughout the process.”

“The partnership between Amtrak and NABTU reflects a commitment to the workforce who will help build the future of our country’s rail infrastructure,” Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn said.