By Sam Mintz, Politico Morning Transportation; April 24, 2019
High-stakes infrastructure sit-down set for next week
CHICAGO DEMS TAKE ON AMTRAK: Three Chicago-based members of Congress will rally with union workers today to protest Amtrak’s decision to outsource work amid what labor groups are calling “a hostile turn” in labor relations by the company. Amtrak has recently eliminated dining service on certain routes and closed a call center in California, as well as remove staff from Union Station in Cincinnati. The Trump administration has also proposed drastically scaling back federal funding for Amtrak and cutting its long-distance routes. Reps. Dan Lipinski, Chuy García and Jan Schakowsky — all Illinois Democrats — are scheduled to appear along with Unite Here, the Transportation Communications Union, and the Transport Workers Union.