CLEVELAND, September 28 — Amtrak’s new President and CEO Alexander Kummant provided vague answers to questions about rail labor in a hearing today before the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Subcommittee on Railroads.
Under questioning by Representative Steven LaTourette, the Chairman of the Subcommittee, Kummant acknowledged that only 30 percent of employees were currently under contract and many of Amtrak’s employees were not paid at rates competitive to those in freight service. However, he also noted, to the consternation of rail labor, Amtrak needed to be able to flexibly manage its workforce.
BLET members who work for Amtrak have been without a contract for more than six years.
Representative LaTourette also said that Amtrak needed long term funding, which Kummant also agreed was necessary.
“Congress has a history of giving Amtrak just enough [funding] to fail,” Representative LaTourette said.
In his opening statement, Kummant acknowledged that passenger rail needs investment.
“At a time of high oil prices, growing highway and airport congestion and record rail freight volumes, problems which beset and constrain our transportation system, we should be embracing rail and developing it as quickly and as responsibly as we can,” Kummant said. “We should get beyond the debate of a few hundred million dollars of operating costs and begin to realize the potential rail passenger service has to offer with the right level of investment and a clearly defined federal policy.”
Kummant also pledged to ride Amtrak regularly in order to be in touch with the system and its employees. The hearing was his first public appearance since being named President and CEO, and he expressed his support for the passenger rail system.
“I believe in rail passenger service and I believe in Amtrak,” Kummant said.
Kummant was also vague when question about rail security training and funding. He stated that he “is not a security expert.”
Kummant was selected by the Amtrak board in early September and began working on September 12. He held the position of vice president for the Union Pacific Railroad’s central division from 1999 to 2003.
“I look forward working with Mr. Kummant,” BLET National President Don Hahs said. “I hope that his dedication to Amtrak extends to the employees whose passion and commitment have kept the railroad running these many years and are in desperate need of a new contract.”