THE THIRD LARGEST RAILROAD UNION IN THE U. S. REJECTED A DEAL WITH EMPLOYERS MONDAY, OCTOBER 11TH, RENEWING THE POSSIBILITY OF A STRIKE THAT COULD CRIPPLE THE ECONOMY. BOTH SIDES WILL RETURN TO THE BARGAINING TABLE BEFORE THAT HAPPENS.
OVER HALF OF TRACK MAINTENANCE WORKERS REPRESENTED BY THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAINTENANE OF WAY EMPLOYEES DIVISION, WHO VOTED TO OPPOSE THE FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT, DESPITE 24% RAISES AND $5,000 IN BONUSES. UNION PRESIDENT, TONY CARDWELL, SAID THE RAILROADS DIDN’T DO ENOUGH TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF PAID TIME OFF — PARTICULARLY SICK TIME — AND WORKING CONDITIONS AFTER THE MAJOR RAILROADS ELIMINATED NEARLY ONE-THIRD OF THEIR JOBS OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS.
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN PRESSURED THE RAILROADS AND UNIONS TO REACH A DEAL LAST MONTH, AHEAD OF A MID-SEPTEMBER DEADLINE TO ALLOW A STRIKE OR WAKLOUT. MANY BUSINESSES ALSO URGED CONGRESS TO BE READY TO INTERVENE IN THE DISPUTE AND BLOCK A STRIKE IF AN AGREEMENT WASN’T REACHED, BECAUSE SO MANY COMPANIES RELY ON RAILROADS TO DELIVER THEIR RAW MATERIALS AND FINISHED PRODUCTS.
FOUR OTHER RAILROAD UNIONS HAVE APPROVED THEIR AGREEMENTS WITH FREIGHT RAILROADS, INCLUDING BNSF, UNION PACIFIC, KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN, CSX AND NORFOLK SOUTHERN; BUT ALL 12 UNIONS REPRESENTING, 115,000 WORKERS, MUST RATIFY THEIR CONTRACTS TO PREVENT A STRIKE.
