U.S. District Court Judge Emmett Sullivan put his preliminary stamp of approval on a settlement agreement at a Consent Decree Hearing on April 5, 2000 in Washington, DC. The Amtrak settlement provides for a fund of $16 million to be distributed among the plaintiffs to the class action lawsuit filed on behalf of African American employees and job applicants for positions represented by the BMWE in the Engineering Department of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor.

Amtrak also agreed to implement wide-ranging changes in its personnel policies which affect hiring, certification, training and advancement, discipline, internal enforcement of equal employment policies, and data collection and retention. "The policy changes mandated by the Consent Decree are at least as important as the money," said Michael D. Lieder of Sprenger & Lang, lead counsel for the plaintiffs, who was assisted by attorney Maia Caplan, also of Sprenger & Lang.

The Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs also served as class counsel for the plaintiffs under the guidance of Director Avis E. Buchanan. Assistance was also provided by Andrew A. Rainer of Shapiro, Haber & Urmy of Boston, Massachusetts.

"The struggle for equal opportunity for all members is a central mission of our union," said Jed Dodd, General Chairman of the BMWE Pennsylvania Federation, "and we are pleased that this settlement will make the working environment a better place for all railroad maintenance and construction workers."

Dodd praised Anthony Rochon, Pennsylvania Federation Vice Chairman, "for never giving up and continually pushing for justice on Amtrak in the struggle" that was initiated by he and former Vice Chairman Joel Myron some years ago. Dodd also commended the members of the BMWE plaintiff liasion team which included Hakim Abdullah, Sheila Buchanan, Dennis R. Morgan, Jeffrey Plumer and James V. Thornton.

Shown on the courthouse steps, left to right, front row, Michael D. Lieder, Jed Dodd, Sheila Buchanan, Henry Crawford; second row, Dennis R. Morgan, Maia Caplan, Anthony Rochon; back row, Avis Buchanan, James V. Thornton, Hakim Abdullah, Jeffrey Plumer, Randy Caldwell, Joel Myron, Andrew Rainer, Michael Bessette, George Davidson.