Amtrak Closure in Riverside, California

Floor Speech

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Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I rise today because nearly 500 Amtrak workers in Riverside are being forced to uproot their lives or lose everything they worked so hard for, a good, stable union job that pays them well and gives them benefits.

This nightmare scenario is born out of a sudden decision by Amtrak to shutter its call center in Riverside in what amounts to a union-busting maneuver to outsource jobs and replace these employees with contractors for lower pay.

Today, I want the Amtrak CEO to hear, not from me, but from Theresa Kolaras, an Amtrak employee in Riverside, and U.S. Army veteran, who will be losing her job on January 18 if Amtrak moves forward with this call center closure. And here is what Theresa had to say:

Growing up, it was my dream to serve my country. That's why I joined the JROTC program in high school. And after 9/11, I enlisted with the U.S. Army with hopes of making a difference and happy to have a career. My job wasn't glamorous. I was a Unit Support Specialist, MOS 92 Yankee. But I was proud to be serving during a difficult time for our country.

Unfortunately, just as my platoon was readying to deploy, I suffered successive fractures in my foot that wouldn't heal. I was honorably discharged due to the injury and, just like that, my dreams were cut short. At the time, nothing saddened me more than having to watch my friends deploy without me.

Saddled with my foot that wouldn't heal, I now had to figure out what to do with my life. Jobs were hard to find due to having to choose ones that kept me off my feet so much. I found many odd jobs here and there and, within a few years, I finally started a family and continued my education.

In 2014, I was ecstatic to find out I was hired with Amtrak, as I come from a railroad family, and was proud to continue that tradition. Being able to work at our call center in Riverside was a blessing for my family and me.

Amtrak's reputation for its passengers and its employees gave me hope for a brighter future. Living in California is nearly impossible, with its high cost of living, especially being a single mother of two boys.

I was able to take care of my kids on the great benefits and wages at Amtrak. My boys love the train and enjoy our many trips we were able to take.

Now, on November 14, I got a sudden awakening as I got notice that Amtrak would be closing our call center in Riverside.

Amtrak reassured us employees our jobs were secure. As months went by, Amtrak started closing stations, putting employees out of work, and many of us in Riverside started to worry about our jobs.

Now that feeling of worry is a reality, and we're left wondering why Amtrak has been so dishonest.

Amtrak sent out a letter to us stating that they are not laying us off, but we are able to go to its Philadelphia call center.

Now, I count myself among the great majority that just can't pick up on short notice and leave. I have small children and share custody, and I can't legally move my kids out of state.

I honestly have no idea where my children and I will go. We have a month to figure out where to live, as I can't pay rent without a job, along with this injury that I still deal with every day.

I am one of the many employees who are at a hardship, and a few days away from closing we still don't have any real answers or hope that we will at least have a severance package.

Amtrak has been quiet, and I am still in disbelief that this was once a company that was known for its employee and customer loyalty. Many of us loved our jobs because we were proud of the railroad, proud to wear the name, and proud to help our customers plan their trips.

Now, at work these last few days, I see people with despair in their faces and loss of hope in their eyes.

I still have hope that Amtrak will wake up and realize that the direction they are going is hurting its customers and its employees, which are their biggest fans. This decision is both ethically and morally wrong.

I would like to thank Theresa for allowing me to read her powerful statement to Amtrak's CEO.

As of today, 39 of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle, and I, as well as Senator Feinstein and Senator Harris, have joined the Amtrak workers in this fight. We will do everything we can do to fight this closure until the bitter end.

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