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On Friday, Amtrak and eight rail labor unions reached a tentative agreement, avoiding a Jan. 30 strike.

The new agreements call for retroactive wage increases that closely follow a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) recommendation. For example, workers represented by the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division and Transportation Communications Union would receive average wage increases totaling 35.2 percent over the life of the agreement, which runs from Jan. 1, 2000 to Dec. 31, 2009.

Amtrak also reached tentative pacts with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers; Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen; American Train Dispatchers Association; National Conference of Firemen & Oilers/Service Employees International Union; and American Railway & Airline Supervisors Association (Maintenance of Equipment, Maintenance of Way). The agreements will be presented to members for a ratification vote.

In November, the National Mediation Board released the parties from mediation. A PEB, which was established on Dec. 1, provided settlement recommendations on Dec. 30.