Amtrak reached a tentative contract agreement with representatives from nine of its labor unions Friday, heading off a threatened strike.

Officials from metro-area transportation systems are breathing a sigh of relief, as a strike would have crippled systems that many commuters depend on regularly.

"It's absolutely 100 percent certain that VRE would shut down if an Amtrak strike occurs," said John Jenkins, chairman of Virginia Railway Express, a commuter train that has 15,000 daily riders.

"I can sleep well this weekend," said Jawauna Greene, Maryland Transit Administration spokeswoman. MARC, the state's commuter railroad, has 30,000 daily riders.

This story continues below
Advertisement

About 10,000 Amtrak employees had been without a contract since the end of 1999, and a presidential emergency board had released recommended settlement terms Dec. 30.

The unions were allowed to strike beginning Jan. 30.

"We didn't get everything we sought, nor did Amtrak," but a legitimate and fair compromise was reached," said Rick Inclima, director of safety and education for the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees.

Inclima said the main objectives, including retroactive wages that "mirrored freight wage agreements," and the preservation of work rules, were satisfied.

Details of the agreement will not be released until union members ratify it over the next few weeks.

wblake@dcexaminer.com

dgenz@dcexaminer.com