(SOURCE: WMTW Adam Bartow)
CSX Transportation, which is one of the biggest rail-transportation providers in the country, is moving nearly two dozen jobs out of Maine.
The company confirms to Maine's Total Coverage that, effective March 1, CSX will relocate 21 mechanical roles from Waterville to facilities in Selkirk, New York, and Cumberland, Maryland, "to better utilize resources and personnel."
The company says all affected employees can relocate and keep working with CSX or take a separation allowance based on their years of service.
“It’s a tough blow and it was definitely unexpected because these guys had consistently heard from CSX that they did great work. They were filling a void that CSX couldn't do, but then they just came in one day unannounced and informed them that they were being laid off,” said Josh Hartford, Special Assistant to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers President, Rail Division.
The Maine AFL-CIO says impacted workers include members of IAM Local 318, SMART-Mechanical, SMART-Transportation, the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, and IBEW at the Waterville Engine House and Back Shop. Most of the affected employees are members of the IAM Union.
“A lot of the gentlemen that work here are all over 50, 55 years old, so for them to change careers at 55 years old isn't really an option for these guys. There's no reason why they should be cutting workers when they're still making billions in profits. That doesn't make any sense," said IAM 318 Chairman Patrick Morse.
Overall, the CSX Transportation network includes about 20,000 route miles of track in 26 states, the District of Columbia and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
Last year,
CSX replaced over 130,000 railroad ties along the Downeaster Corridor.
