RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Members of California’s congressional delegation have joined the effort to save Amtrak’s reservation call center in Riverside, which employs about 500 workers.
The Riverside Press-Enterprise reports that 37 of the state’s representatives in Congress have agreed to sign a letter asking Amtrak to change its plan to close the Riverside center on Jan. 18. Employees have been offered jobs at Amtrak’s other call center in Philadelphia, although the union representing the California workers continues to negotiate with Amtrak about how much the company would offer to cover relocation expenses.
Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona, released a separate letter on Wednesday asking Amtrak to delay the closure for at least six months, allowing Congress time to address the situation and giving employees time to weigh the relocation offer.
Amtrak has said the closure reflects decreased traffic at its call centers, but employees in Riverside contend traffic is being diverted to a third-party contractor in Florida, which Calvert said would be “completely unacceptable.”
About 100 people rallied on Wednesday at Riverside City Hall to protest the closure.
