Comparison of contract raises negotiated for Amtrak workers verses ACRE members:

Contract Year       Amtrak         ACRE

2002                       6.087%        3.000% *

2003                       3.000%        0.000% + $1,000.00 signing bonus

2004                       3.250%        3.000%

2005                       2.500%        3.000%

2006                       3.000%        3.000%

2007                       3.000%        4.000%

2008                       4.000%        3.500%

2009                       4.500%        3.000%

2010                       not settled     0.000% for first 6 months

TOTALS               29.337%        22.500%

* Members were under the BLE and UTU. Mike Doyle and Tony Bottalico negotiated the 2002 contract raise in the 1999 agreement.

ACRE members belonging to an independent rail union have paid a very steep price for their independence. Anyone can see that it totals 6.837% in wage increases.

Remember the government is always looking to cut the funding for Amtrak and the employeees still walked away with these salary increases.