]> http://www.laborradio.org/taxonomy/term/90/0 en http://www.laborradio.org/node/72 <p>As Amtrak moves into make it or break it territory, the leader of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department is calling on the rail lines board of directors to step down. The Bush administration has called for a breakup of the company so it could be run more like the nation's airlines, while the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed two bills on Wednesday that would inject $6 billion into Amtrak to improve it's infrastructure and service. TTD President Edward Wytkind says Amtrak's board is made up of large donors to the Bush administration and instead of protecting the rail have are instead serving the politician who appointed them. TTD spokesperson Michael Buckley explains:</p> Amtrak Privatization TTD Mon, 02 May 2005 21:26:09 -0700 http://www.laborradio.org/node/272 <p>In his new budget proposal, President George W. Bush has completely eliminated funding for Amtrak.</p> <p>[Buckley]: The Bush administration has long been out to dismantle Amtrak. But this is really a new low where they have come right out and zeroed out it’s budget.</p> <p>Michael Buckley is Communications Director for the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department. He says the TTD believes privatizing the railway is a bad decision.</p> <p>[Buckley2]: It’s very reckless and irresponsible policy choice. It would put 22,000 workers out of jobs, it would strand millions of passengers across the country, it would send many more cars to already congested highways.</p> Amtrak TTD White House Thu, 10 Feb 2005 08:25:31 -0800