Posts tagged freight railroad
Rail strike threat escalates as third union rejects deal
November 15, 2022 // The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB) announced Monday its members voted against ratifying a tentative agreement with the major freight railroads, making IBB the third labor group to turn down the deal brokered by the Biden administration and upping the chances of a nationwide strike.
Factbox-Latest on Ratification Status of U.S. Railroad Unions to Avert Strike
November 10, 2022 // - Major U.S. railroads and unions representing 115,000 workers reached a tentative deal last week and averted a potential strike that could have stalled almost 30% of U.S. cargo shipments by weight, stoked inflation and cost the U.S. economy as much as $2 billion per day. Although a strike was avoided with intervention from the Biden administration, uncertainty still looms over the industry as most unions are yet to ratify the deal.
Labor secretary expects Congress to block rail strike
November 7, 2022 // The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 19, which represents 4,900 rail worker, on Saturday announced it had approved a tentative deal by a 52%-48% margin [see “Machinists narrowly ratify …,” Trains News Wire, Nov. 5, 2022] Just 52% of voters approved the agreement, after the union’s rank and file had turned down a previous deal. The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division and Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen have turned down tentative agreements, with the BMWED set to strike as soon as Nov. 19.
Rail union approves deal offering hope of avoiding strike
November 7, 2022 // Concerns remain about the possibility of an economically devastating strike because the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division and Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen unions voted down their contracts, and many workers say these deals just don’t address their quality-of life concerns. No strike is imminent because those unions agreed to return to the bargaining table to try to work out a new deal, but those talks have been deadlocked over the unions’ demands for paid sick time and there is a Nov. 19 deadline.
New Demands by One Labor Union Renews Concerns about Possible Railroad Strike in November
October 27, 2022 // DuWayne Bosse of Bolt Marketing is optimistic it will not come to that. "I don't think we go into a full out strike because I don't think the economy can handle it right now and I think the Administration knows that as well, but that's why I think the unions are standing strong because they know that too." However, this is causing increased concern among end users and may slow shipments similar to late August, early September before the previous deadline for a labor deal
Major Rail Union Rejects Biden-Backed Deal, Reigniting Strike Fears
October 11, 2022 // While four of the dozen rail unions have thus far ratified, if the members of any union fail to agree to the terms, all 12 unions will go on strike, the AP reported. By rejecting the deal, the BMWED will return to negotiations with railways, entering a “status quo” period where unions cannot strike until Nov. 19, five days after Congress reconvenes, the BWMED stated.
Shippers want rail service reform even if unions ratify contracts
October 6, 2022 // Both BLET and SMART-TD said last Thursday that they finally reached a tentative agreement with the railroads, and that agreement will be sent to union members in the coming weeks for approval. The Association of American Railroads estimated that a strike would have cost the U.S. economy as much as $2 billion a day. Shippers lobbied Congress to ensure that the tentative labor deals were reached to prevent a strike.
Next up for US unions: Major contracts for 700,000 workers
September 20, 2022 // Each of these unions seek not only lucrative contracts but significant changes in work rules and assurances of job security that could make it difficult to avoid work stoppages.
Railroad pact could fall apart, unions set to vote Thursday
September 20, 2022 // The report quoted Railroad Works United activist Ron Kaminkow saying that average rail workers felt “a lot of anger, confusion and hostility” toward the deal, with the workers unhappy about vague details about sick leave and other days off. And the publication Labor Notes said a contract rejection “is still a very live possibility, based on discussions with members and leaders of various unions involved.”
We haven’t completely dodged a ‘disastrous’ rail strike, rail workers say
September 15, 2022 // After years of an increasingly taxing work environment, longtime rail employees are worn down — and not trusting that the tentative agreement reached by their union officials and employers will deliver for them. “It just feels like we’re going to be forced into a deal that I’ve heard nobody say anything positive about,” said the track worker.