Originally Posted by
AlanB
That is true that Amtrak personel don't depend on tips as a large portion of their income. But on the other hand your local wait staff doesn't typically work from 5:30 AM till 10:30 - 11:00 PM through all three meals. Your local wait staff also doesn't have to contend with a rocking and rolling resturant, and most also have bus boys too.
Finally, the local wait staff goes home each night to sleep in their own beds and say hi to their loved ones.
True, but the local wait staff are not unionized. Amtrak employees are very well-paid. According to congressional testimony, labor costs in the dining car are 111% of dining car revenue. (Yes, the dining cars lose lots of money, but their function is to increase ticket sales.) There's even a Railroad Retirement Board that looks after Amtrak (and other railroad) employees' retirements.
I definitely think it's ok to give a few bucks for great service, but I wouldn't say that it's necessary or required.