IFCA Signs Coalition Letter on Rail Strike
Based on latest news reports, six of twelve railroad unions have ratified their agreements with the National Carrier’ Conference Committee, who negotiates on behalf of the railroads. There is ongoing concern provided the recent rejection of the contract by the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (BMWED) and the outstanding voting by the two largest unions (BLET and SMART-TD).
The major freight railroads appear unwilling to offer track maintenance workers much more than they received in the initial contract that was rejected last week, increasing chances of a strike.
Six of the twelve railroad unions, representing 115,000 workers nationwide, have approved their tentative agreements with the railroads thus far. All twelve unions must ratify their contracts to avoid a strike. The unions have agreed to put any strike on hold until at least mid-November while the BMWED negotiates a new deal, and the other unions vote on their proposed contracts. This would mean there is no immediate threat that the trains businesses rely on to deliver their raw materials and finished products will stop moving. A union strike could devastate the economy.
With these ongoing concerns, IFCA recently signed a coalition letter to President Biden and key administration officials encouraging them to continue to collaborate with the parties involved to get the contracts ratified. Please click here to review the letter.
The major freight railroads appear unwilling to offer track maintenance workers much more than they received in the initial contract that was rejected last week, increasing chances of a strike.
Six of the twelve railroad unions, representing 115,000 workers nationwide, have approved their tentative agreements with the railroads thus far. All twelve unions must ratify their contracts to avoid a strike. The unions have agreed to put any strike on hold until at least mid-November while the BMWED negotiates a new deal, and the other unions vote on their proposed contracts. This would mean there is no immediate threat that the trains businesses rely on to deliver their raw materials and finished products will stop moving. A union strike could devastate the economy.
With these ongoing concerns, IFCA recently signed a coalition letter to President Biden and key administration officials encouraging them to continue to collaborate with the parties involved to get the contracts ratified. Please click here to review the letter.