Frustration High. Boston Rail Workers Warn of Potential Strike

TWU International Providing Support with Organizing, Strategy, and Communications in Contract Fight

TWU Local 2054 President Ed Flaherty warned the MBTA board today that commuter rail workers will strike if and when the National Mediation Board releases them.

The MBTA’s private contractor operating the system, greedy French conglomerate Keolis, pays wages so low rookie train cleaners are eligible for food stamps, Flaherty said at the MTBA board meeting.

“We don’t want to strike, but we will when we are legally able to,” Flaherty said.

Local 2054 coach workers and car inspectors have gone 238 days without a contract. They are the lowest paid railroad workers in the Northeast and live in one of the most expensive states. MBTA rail workers employed by Keolis are one of few groups in Massachusetts without sick time, Flaherty said. First-year cleaners are paid so poorly they are eligible for SNAP food assistance and Section 8 public housing vouchers, he said.

“These jobs used to be a path to the middle class, not a path to the welfare line,” Flaherty said. “To me, this is proof that privatization doesn’t work. Public transportation was not created to create profits for corporate America – or corporate France.”

John Samuelsen, TWU International President, added: “France would not tolerate an American company degrading French workers’ wages and working conditions like this. The TWU will fight like hell to stop Keolis from doing it in Boston.”

TWU Local 2054 is currently in contract negotiations with Keolis. The NMB can grant “self help” status, and allow a strike without legal penalties, after a series of mediation efforts and mandatory 30-day cooling off periods.