(Crain’s Chicago Business published the following story on January 26.)
CHICAGO — It’s the end of the line for Amtrak’s reservations call center at 55 E. Monroe St. The Chicago center’s 267 employees were told Friday that their jobs will be terminated at the end of the year.
“We’re taking this step to bring capacity in line with demand,” says a spokesman for the national rail passenger corporation.
Nationwide, Amtrak’s call volume has dropped by almost half, to 1.2 million calls a month in the last two years, with 37% of reservations now coming in through the Internet or other electronic means.
Closing the facility will trigger a $1-million refund on a $1.5-million grant the city of Chicago gave Amtrak five years ago to help keep the call center open, but eventually will save Amtrak $3 million a year.
Employees can transfer to other call centers in California or Pennsylvania, or they can exercise their seniority rights and bump other workers in the Transportation Communications International Union, an Amtrak spokesman says.