BOSTON – Commuter rail workers demanding higher wages and more affordable health insurance from their employer rallied outside South Station during the Wednesday morning commute to alert riders to their ongoing fight with the workforce.

U.S. Reps. Ayanna Pressley, Seth Moulton and Stephen Lynch, as well as state Sen. Brendan Crighton, joined about 100 commuter rail workers and union members in trying to pressure Keolis Commuter Services, which operates 14 railway lines in Greater. Boston and Rhode Island.

The workers do not plan to strike and cause service disruptions, said Jonathan Clark, president of the International Association of Machinists and Aeronautics (IAM) Local 318. Clark said the labor contracts expired two years ago.

Clark described the gathering as an “informational rally,” with a coalition of unions representing other Keolis workers with expired contracts.

“It’s all walks of life, from maintenance workers to signal electricians to auto inspectors,” Clark said.

A giant inflatable rat that often appears at labor disputes was located outside the station, and some passing cars honked their horns loudly as they drove into the crowd. Ralliers joined in chants including “Union! Power!” and “When We Fight! We Win!” A truck parked near the crowd displayed a large digital sign that read: “Keep the trains on the tracks. Support commuter rail workers.”

Contract negotiations have been ongoing for the past year, and Clark said workers are excited about Keolis’ plan to increase insurance costs by 30 percent over five years while raising wages by only 25 percent.

“We wouldn’t profit at all — we wouldn’t have any growth,” Clark said.

A Keolis spokesman said the commuter union employee contracts do not expire, although they may be adjusted at certain points.

Keolis said the more than 14 unions representing 2,500 workers are in various stages of negotiations. One union has reached an agreement with Keolis, while nine unions have formed a coalition and two others have entered into mediation, Keolis said.

“We are currently negotiating in good faith with each collective bargaining unit to amend their existing agreements. Our goal is to reach fair agreements with all unions, mindful of our role as financial stewards of Commuter Rail on behalf of the MBTA and the Commonwealth,” said a Keolis spokesperson, who pointed out that Keolis reached an agreement with the Transport Workers Union of America earlier this year that included a 23 percent pay increase over five years and paid sick leave.

“KCS is in advanced stages of negotiations with at least nine other unions,” the spokesman said. “We continue to make positive progress and are confident that we will reach agreements with each collective bargaining unit.”

The IAM says workers here are the lowest paid commuter rail employees in the country and earn 12 percent less than their counterparts at Amtrak.

Joe English, a mechanical supervisor with the Railroad and Airline Supervisors Association of America Lodge 5085, said he earns $4.57 less an hour than his counterparts at Amtrak.

“That’s 10,000 a year at 40 hours,” English said. “Now, a lot of these people, a lot of my people, are working 40-hour weeks with overtime. That’s a $25,000 difference.”

A railroad worker since 1974, English said he seeks equality from Keolis, “Equality in pay, equality in rights and equality in employment.” English said the workers and Keolis are “not even close” to wage negotiations.

The Keolis spokesman said the salary and benefits packages being offered and negotiated were “fair and reasonable compared to industry standards”.

Keolis workers do not receive paid sick days, Clark said. A Keolis spokesman said the company participates in federal sick and unemployment benefits and that some unions have chosen to forgo more sick benefits as they focus on bigger pay raises or other benefits.

Keolis took over operations at the MBTA’s commuter rail service in 2014 after securing a $2.6 billion, eight-year contract, according to the company’s website. MBTA officials in 2020 extended the contract through June 30, 2026, and the MBTA Board in April extended it through mid-2027.

Amtrak and the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company previously operated the commuter rail, which is owned by the MBTA. Robert Butler, an MBTA board member who attended the rally, got a shout out for supporting commuter rail workers.

An MBTA spokesman would not comment on the future of Keolis’ contract, but said current negotiations are taking place “in good faith.”

“We are receiving regular updates from Keolis on the ongoing contract negotiations, which are progressing, and both parties are negotiating in good faith,” said MBTA spokeswoman Maya Bingaman. “We appreciate and value the partnership of all our labor partners and the operator, Keolis, and are confident that a resolution will be reached that demonstrates the appropriate commitment to the workforce, the public we all serve and the needs of our operator.

Lynch said Keolis must come to the negotiating table in “good faith.” He also warned that Keolis’ future is at risk in Massachusetts.

“Here’s the thing: Keolis, which has consistently refused to pay people the wages and benefits they deserve, their contract is up — their contract is up,” Lynch said to cheers. “So the Massachusetts community will have to decide which company will run the commuter rail for the next two years. And we want to make sure that Keolis realizes that their place is on the line, that their contract is up.”

At an MBTA board meeting in February, commuter rail workers showed up to discuss their low pay and limited benefits.

“For years, the MBTA has treated commuter rail like the illegitimate stepchild of the MBTA, only paying child support to whoever runs it, and the provider takes their cut before it gets to us,” Ed Flaherty, president of Local 2054 Transportation The workers union, which represents car inspectors and coach cleaners at Keolis, Amtrak and CLX, said at the time.

The MBTA is looking at potential changes to the structure of its commuter rail contract, agency spokesman Joe Pesaturo said at the time.

“There have been significant developments in passenger rail technology and operations worldwide since the current structure was developed, and the MBTA is considering whether different contract structures can better serve Massachusetts communities,” Pesaturo said. “The plan for the next acquisition is to identify a partner that can help realize this vision through an innovative new operating contract structure.”

At Wednesday’s rally, AFL-CIO President Chrissy Lynch criticized the privatization of public transportation and urged Keolis to listen to workers’ demands.

“Since Maura Healey became governor, the MBTA has made some great contracts with the other bargaining units that the state negotiates directly with,” Lynch said. “Surprise, surprise, Keolis contracts privatized, we’re still waiting for some fair contracts there. That’s why we’re here today.”

Pressley emphasized the importance of investing in workers to maintain and improve public transportation.

“We cannot and will not build the public transportation system that this Commonwealth deserves, that is safe, that is affordable, right on the backs of the workers who pour their blood, sweat and tears into that system day in and day out,” Pressley. said.

The congresswoman added: “This contract fight is about your families, it’s about your health, it’s about your well-being, and it’s about future generations of transit workers who deserve to be properly compensated for their work and finally be able to take a day off when you or your family are sick.”