Rail strike worry prompts businesses to seek WH intervention
2 years, 1 month ago

Rail strike worry prompts businesses to seek WH intervention

Associated Press  

— Businesses are increasingly worried about the renewed threat of a railroad strike after two unions rejected their deals, and they want the Biden administration and Congress to be ready to intervene. A coalition of 322 business groups from a variety of industries signed off on a letter to President Joe Biden Thursday urging him to make sure the deals he helped broker last month get approved because a railroad strike would have dire consequences for the economy. The head of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division union that rejected its agreement earlier this month said if the railroads won’t consider adding sick time he has no choice but to prepare for a strike next month. Union President Tony Cardwell said railroad executives continue to “bow to Wall Street’s continued desire for more than its fair share” as they report billions in profits. Ian Jefferies, who leads the Association of American Railroads trade group, said Thursday the “BMWED’s recent proposal was not a realistic offer” because the union “simply demanded more — and they did so with full knowledge that the railroads would not agree.” If both sides can’t agree on a deal, Congress may step in and block a strike.

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History of this topic

EXPLAINER: What to know on Congress’ bid to bar rail strike
2 years ago

EXPLAINER: What to know on Congress’ bid to bar rail strike

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is asking Congress to intervene to avert a potentially crippling freight rail strike before Christmas and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is calling a vote this week to do so, even if it means handing a defeat to Democratic allies in the labor movement. In urging Congress to impose the deal that union leaders had agreed …

Railroad unions decry Biden’s plan to block possible strike
2 years ago

Railroad unions decry Biden’s plan to block possible strike

Associated Press  

— Railroad unions on Tuesday decried President Joe Biden’s call for Congress to intervene in their contract dispute, saying it undercuts their efforts to address workers’ quality of life concerns, but businesses stressed that it is crucial to avoid a strike next week that would devastate the economy. “A call to Congress to act immediately to pass legislation that adopts …

Biden calls on Congress to head off potential rail strike
2 years ago

Biden calls on Congress to head off potential rail strike

Associated Press  

— President Joe Biden on Monday asked Congress to intervene and block a railroad strike before next month’s deadline in the stalled contract talks, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said lawmakers would take up legislation this week to impose the deal that unions agreed to in September. “Without freight rail, many U.S. industries would shut down.” In a statement, Pelosi …

Congress leaders signal support for preventing US rail strike
2 years ago

Congress leaders signal support for preventing US rail strike

Al Jazeera  

US President Joe Biden would like to stop a rail strike that could cost the US economy $2bn a day. United States congressional leaders have expressed support for quickly ending a threatened rail workers’ strike that could sow chaos in the US economy. Speaking at the White House after a meeting with President Joe Biden Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck …

Column: Greedy railroads are to blame for rail strike threat. Why should Congress help them?
2 years ago

Column: Greedy railroads are to blame for rail strike threat. Why should Congress help them?

LA Times  

Freight train cars at a Union Pacific yard in City of Commerce. With a majority of rail workers balking at a contract negotiated with railroads under the eye of the Biden administration, a rail strike looms. The prevailing take on the looming national rail crisis is that a few recalcitrant railroad unions are poised go on strike Dec. 9, provoking …

Biden Calls On Congress To Head Off Potential Rail Strike
2 years ago

Biden Calls On Congress To Head Off Potential Rail Strike

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING OMAHA, Neb. — President Joe Biden on Monday called on Congress to pass legislation to intervene and block a railroad strike before next month’s deadline in the stalled contract talks. A coalition of more than 400 business groups sent a letter to Congressional leaders Monday urging them to step into the stalled talks because of fears about …

Rail strike worries prompt businesses to seek federal intervention
2 years, 1 month ago

Rail strike worries prompt businesses to seek federal intervention

LA Times  

Freight train cars sit in a Norfolk Southern rail yard on Sept. 14, 2022, in Atlanta. Businesses are increasingly worried about the renewed threat of a railroad strike after two unions rejected their deals, and they want the White House and Congress to be ready to intervene. Businesses are increasingly worried about the renewed threat of a railroad strike after …

Second railroad union rejects deal, adding to strike worries
2 years, 1 month ago

Second railroad union rejects deal, adding to strike worries

Associated Press  

— A second railroad union rejected its deal with the major U.S. freight railroads on Wednesday, reflecting workers’ increasing frustration with the lack of paid sick time and adding to concerns about the possibility of a strike next month that could cripple the economy. Union President Michael Baldwin cited the “lack of good-faith bargaining” by the railroads, and said the …

Rail unions emphasize positives of their tentative deals
2 years, 2 months ago

Rail unions emphasize positives of their tentative deals

Associated Press  

— The two biggest U.S. railroad unions were working Wednesday ahead of key ratification votes to dispel rumors about the contract deals that averted a potentially devastating nationwide strike. And that’s a heavy lift.” He added that there are some “out there from the outside and inside with their own agendas that are trying to keep everyone agitated.” The BLET …

Rail union that rejected deal signs new tentative agreement
2 years, 2 months ago

Rail union that rejected deal signs new tentative agreement

Associated Press  

— A union that rejected its deal with the nation’s freight railroads earlier this month now has a new tentative agreement, but officials cautioned that the contract dispute won’t be fully settled until all 12 rail unions approve their agreements this fall. Andrew W. Sandberg, assistant president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union’s District 19 unit, …

Op-Ed: No rail strike for now, but workers aren’t done fighting
2 years, 3 months ago

Op-Ed: No rail strike for now, but workers aren’t done fighting

LA Times  

Passengers on a platform to board a train at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. The workers’ demands include sick days, and the new agreement reportedly enables them to take unpaid days for medical care without being punished, also granting a 24% wage increase over five years. An agreement securing sick leave and other protections for workers — or, down …

Businesses, White House plan for possible rail strike Friday
2 years, 3 months ago

Businesses, White House plan for possible rail strike Friday

Associated Press  

— Business and government officials are bracing for the possibility of a nationwide rail strike at the end of this week while talks carry on between the largest U.S. freight railroads and their unions. The railroads have already started to curtail shipments of hazardous materials and have announced plans to stop hauling refrigerated products ahead of Friday’s strike deadline. Ron …

Biden averts freight railroad strike - for now
2 years, 5 months ago

Biden averts freight railroad strike - for now

CNN  

New York CNN Business — Worried about supply chain problems that are already causing problems for the nation’s economy, President Joe Biden took action Friday to prevent 115,000 US railroad workers from going on strike as planned early Monday morning, A strike would have brought nearly 30% of the nation’s freight to a screeching halt. Only at the end of …

Unions hit out at Grant Shapps’ plans to block industrial action
2 years, 7 months ago

Unions hit out at Grant Shapps’ plans to block industrial action

The Independent  

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