(1) Any employee who accepts any benefits under an agreement entered into under section
7971 of this title or a termination allowance under section
797a of this title, shall, except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, be deemed to waive any employee protection benefits otherwise available under any other provision of law or any contract or agreement in effect on August 13, 1981, except benefits under sections
797b and
797c of this title, and shall be deemed to waive any cause of action for any alleged loss of benefits resulting from the provisions of or the amendments made by the Northeast Rail Service Act of 1981.
(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall affect the right of any employee described in such paragraph to benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 [
45 U.S.C.
231 et seq.] or the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act [
45 U.S.C.
351 et seq.].