Teamsters Applaud California Governor's High Speed Rail Support

Local and High Speed Rail Most Economic Way to Link Cities

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Teamsters Union is praising the significant commitment to continued funding for high speed and local commuter rail systems in California that are part of the state budget recently proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown.

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"Governor Brown continues to set high the priority of rail transportation," said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. "As vast as California is, the importance of reliable and cost-effective methods of transportation is critical as the state sees a new influx of residents."

Subway, light rail, commuter and intercity rail systems throughout the state (Caltrain, Amtrak, Bay Area Rapid Transit and others) provide significant incentives and economic options for residents to reach their jobs and travel on vacation. And, the high speed rail project, which will connect the Bay Area with Los Angeles and other cities, will drastically cut the time needed to cross the state.

"Our members work as engineers, trainmen and maintenance of way employees and all have a commitment to providing the public with the safest rail system possible," said John Murphy, Director of the Teamsters Rail Conference and Teamsters International Vice President. "Governor Brown recognizes the need for solid rail travel options and his budget plan will help insure the systems are built and maintained in the best way possible."

Many of the locomotive engineers and trainmen working on California rail lines are members of the Brotherhood of the Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen while the maintenance of way employees are members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division. Both are part of the Teamsters Rail Conference representing more than 70,000 rail employees across the country.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters was established in 1903 and represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters