Amtrak, TCU reach tentative pact

Amtrak last week reached a tentative contract agreement with the Transportation Communications Union (TCU) representing carmen, clerks, on-board service workers and supervisors.

The agreement calls for "significant" percentage wage increases and protects health care benefits, according to a press release issued by the union.

Percentage increases were preferred by the union. Amtrak had proposed one-time lump sum increases.

The tentative agreement follows three years of negotiations, TCU officials said.

After union members receive their ratification package in the mail, TCU will post the full agreement on its website.

TCU — along with coalition members NCFO, IBB, IBEW, TWU, IAM, SMART Mechanical and UNITE HERE — represents 12 crafts, or 57 percent of Amtrak employees, according to the press release.