Amtrak loosens worker vaccine mandate, will allow testing option to avert service cuts

[brooklynite]

Source: Washington Post

Amtrak said Tuesday it is suspending a vaccine mandate for employees, averting the termination of about 500 people and service cuts that were expected next month.

Railroad employees who aren’t vaccinated against the coronavirus will be allowed to submit to weekly testing, Amtrak Chief Executive William J. Flynn said in a memo to workers. The policy applies to the company’s 17,000 employees.

“After reviewing our system service plans in light of these changes, we do not anticipate having system-wide service impacts in January,” Flynn said.

Amtrak last month warned about possible service cuts after the end-of-the-year travel crunch because some workers have not complied with a mandate to be fully vaccinated by Jan. 4. Amtrak President Stephen Gardner last week noted the possible cuts in a House hearing, during which he said the railroad didn’t expect to have enough people to operate all trains.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2021/12/14/amtrak-vaccine-mandate-service/

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. It hasn't even been a week.

Thu Dec 9, 2021: Amtrak to Congress: Service cuts are coming over vaccine rules

Source: Washington Post

An Amtrak executive told Congress on Thursday the railroad doesn’t expect to have enough people to operate all of its trains next month, when a federal coronavirus vaccination mandate takes effect.

Amtrak President Stephen Gardner said about 5 percent of its workforce has yet to get vaccinated less than four weeks before the Jan. 4 deadline.

“We anticipate proactively needing to temporarily reduce some train frequencies across our network in January to avoid staffing-related cancellations — with our plan to fully restore all frequencies by March, or as soon as we have qualified employees available,” Gardner said at a hearing of the House transportation subcommittee on railroads, pipelines and hazardous materials.

Amtrak last month warned it would send letters to uncompliant workers starting Dec. 8 in preparation for termination Jan. 4. The railroad is expected to publish a revised service schedule next week to reflect the cuts. Gardner said the carrier is still determining what trips will be removed, adding that the railroad wants to give passengers enough time to rebook trips.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2021/12/09/amtrak-vaccine-mandate-service-cuts/

[Hiawatha Pete]

14. Step in the wrong direction. In Canada, VIA Rail requires employees AND passengers to be vaccinated:

Last edited Thu Dec 16, 2021, 12:41 PM - Edit history (1)

https://www.viarail.ca/en/preventive-measures-COVID-19

IMHO, Amtrak bending over backwards to appease 500 unvaxed employees (barely 3% of it's workforce ) makes no sense whatsoever. Glad I live in Canada.

Amtrak should just take it's lumps even if it requires cutting some service (which would only be temporary until they find vaxed replacement employees).

That said, I'd be more worried about about catching covid if we decide to do cross-border shopping at Tops or Wegmans (who don't require their employees to be vaxed https://13wham.com/news/local/local-grocery-stores-not-mandating-covid-vaccines ) or a crowded plane, than on Amtrak where we can book a private room (Dutch find 61 COVID-19 cases on South Africa flight https://globalnews.ca/news/8407043/dutch-south-africa-flight-omicron-variant/)

Regardless, my wife & I are planning our next cross country train trip on VIA Rail Canada.

[brooklynite]

3. Amtrak isn't a profit-making entity...

[Fullduplexxx]

4. Thanks for reminding me

[OneCrazyDiamond]

5. Placating covidiots is not the answer.

Are they not concerned about the liability of murdering passengers?

[former9thward]

12. They do not have any liability for Covid.

Just as if you go on a bus, subway or taxi. They have no liability for Covid.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

18. They have to keep passenger safety in mind don't they?

If not, they should.

[orleans]

6. i guess hiring vaccinated people was totally out of the question?

will they be testing these unvaxed employees on a daily basis?

i wouldn't want to ride in an enclosed space for hours with others regardless. but at least knowing all employees are safe to be around would be helpful.

[HUAJIAO]

7. Except being vaccinated doesn't necessarily mean others are safe.

Maybe, 'safer.' is better.

[orleans]

8. but it helps. a lot.

Vaccinated people with breakthrough COVID infections had lower viral loads
UCLA study of 12,000 health workers found infected individuals who were unvaccinated shed more viral particles

https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/vaccinated-workers-shed-less-covid-virus

[HUAJIAO]

10. Yup. I follow all the stuff pretty closely.

However, a more recent study including DELTA shows they are almost the same.
https://www.ucdavis.edu/health/covid-19/news/viral-loads-similar-between-vaccinated-and-unvaccinated-people

Although way fewer subjects.

[brooklynite]

9. Broadly speaking, yes...

First, they need professional training. Second, there are likely Union regulations on replacement workers.

[NurseJackie]

11. It's not like I need another reason to avoid Amtrack... but there ya go.

[Hiawatha Pete]

15. Step in the wrong direction. In Canada, VIA Rail requires employees AND passengers to be vaccinated:

Last edited Thu Dec 16, 2021, 12:42 PM - Edit history (1)

https://www.viarail.ca/en/preventive-measures-COVID-19

Amtrak bending over backwards to appease 500 unvaxed employees (barely 3% of it's workforce ) makes no sense whatsoever. Glad I live in Canada. Needless to say our next trip will be on VIA.

Amtrak should just take it's lumps even if it requires cutting some service (which would only be temporary until they find vaxed replacement employees). But then again they have an ex-airline CEO as their head, no conflict-of-interest there, right? https://skift.com/2020/03/02/amtrak-names-another-airline-exec-as-top-boss-to-replace-former-delta-ceo-richard-anderson-report/

However I'd still be more worried about about catching covid if we decide to do cross-border shopping at a crowded Tops or Wegmans (who don't require their employees to be vaxed https://13wham.com/news/local/local-grocery-stores-not-mandating-covid-vaccines) than on Amtrak where we can book a private room.

And we won't be flying anytime soon either (Dutch find 61 COVID-19 cases on South Africa flight: https://globalnews.ca/news/8407043/dutch-south-africa-flight-omicron-variant/ )

[NurseJackie]

16. I won't be flying any time soon either...

... we have so many AA and SW rewards miles/points that need to be used before I die. While they can be gifted (for a fee) they can't be bequeathed. When I die, the points disappear too.

[Hiawatha Pete]

17. That's too bad that you can't leave your rewards miles to anyone...

Aside from the issue with Amtrak mentioned in the OP, one of the reasons we're taking VIA instead next trip is that I have enough reward points for a free trip for me & my wife in a cabin for two.

I wouldn't rule out flying completely if you can wait, hopefully this Omicron thing will get under control in the near future as more people get their boosters.

In any case, I hope you aren't planning on leaving us anytime soon, and that you get lots more opportunities to travel! Stay safe!

[ZonkerHarris]

13. Call them OmTrack now.