P.M. BRIEFING : Amtrak Machinist Strike Averted

BOSTON —  A nationwide strike by machinists against Amtrak was averted early today by an agreement to try to settle the dispute, a spokeswoman for Amtrak said.

The strike had been called for 6 a.m., and pickets who apparently did not get word of the agreement appeared in some places, including South Station in Boston. But Sue Martin, Amtrak senior director of public affairs in Washington, said service was not affected.

The dispute involved interpretation of an agreement between the national passenger railroad and the International Assn. of Machinists on union officers conducting union business on company time.

Martin said that the agreement was being interpreted inconsistently and that union leaders in some places “essentially were spending all day on union business and getting paid by Amtrak.”

Amtrak issued guidelines to remedy the problem, she said, but union officials thought they were too narrow. Under the agreement reached early today, the guidelines will be put on hold while the two sides seek a resolution of their differences, possibly through arbitration or court action.