In the News

SPRINGFIELD – The chair of the House’s Ways & Means Committee brought back to his district quite the holiday present for the workers at CRRC-MA: continued employment.

Mayor Domenic Sarno called the results from Richard Neal’s advocacy “a Herculean effort” that involved “two key words: respect and clout.”

Sarno made the comments at a press conference on the floor of the factory.

Richard Neal negotiated a revision to the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that reversed a provision that would have prohibited local transit agencies from contracting with CRRC-MA.

Right now the nearly 200 union employees at the Page Boulevard facility are working on fulfilling orders for rolling stock from the MBTA (Boston), SEPTA (Philadelphia) and LACMTA (Los Angeles).

According to information supplied by Neal’s office, the negotiations yielded “a grandfather provision that permits parties who have previously contracted to contract again. This means that CRRC is free to compete for future contracts with Boston, Philadelphia and Los Angeles at any time in the future.”

The change creates “a two year grace period during which CRRC can bid for any transit contract other than with WAMATA (Washington DC transist system). Contracts awarded between new parties during the grace period can be renewed or extended, however no new contracts can be awarded after the two year grace period – unless covered by the grandfather provision.”

Neal said, “This is a victory for good policy and common sense.”

Neal said he learned weeks ago from John Scavotto, business manager of Sheet Metal Workers Local 63 that a provision in the legislation could have effectively closed the plant.

“What the congressman was able to accomplish was amazing,” Scavotto said.

Neal said the facility is “not only important to the region but to the entire country.” Sixty percent of the components used in the manufacture of the rail cars are made in this country, he noted.

Neal said there is no domestic competitor for what CRRC does.

The congressman added that for taxpayers of Western and central Massachusetts tax money has been used to “keep the MBTA afloat.”

He said, “The Boston capitol region needs a first rate transportation system. Much of the quality work that is taking place in these cars will help to ensure that.”

Neal said he made it clear to his legislative colleagues that the act was not going to pass unless the revisions were made. He called the negotiations “pretty assertive.”

“This story was caught up into international trade tension,” he added.

Neal believes the grace period may be eliminated or extended through future legislation.

President of CRRC-MA Jia Bo said of Neal, “You are our champion.”