LAGOS (CoinChapter.com) — A railroad strike action that could cripple the United States economy is impending as the union of railroad track maintenance workers has rejected a tentative agreement with the nation’s freight carriers.
In detail, following the failure of the rail union to reach a satisfactory agreement threat that there could be a railroad strike is renewed.
Over half of the workers represented by the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division who voted opposed the agreement. The vote announced by the BMWE indicated that 43% were in favor of the proposed five-year contract, and 57% opposed it.
Around 12,000 of the 23,000 members of the BMWE participated in the vote. It is the third largest of the major freight railroad unions. Notably, both sides will return to the bargaining table before all-out strike action is embarked on.
Tony Cardwell the union president explained that the deal collapsed because it failed to address some issues plaguing members. He noted that the agreement didn’t address issues concerning working conditions after the major railroads eliminated nearly one-third of their jobs over the past six years.
“Railroaders are discouraged and upset with working conditions and compensation […]. They resent the fact that management holds no regard for their quality of life. This is illustrated by their stubborn reluctance to provide a higher quantity of paid time off, especially for sickness.”
Cardwell said.Additionally, the group that represents the railroads to end the strike said they were disappointed the union rejected the agreement. However, they noted that there’s no immediate threat of strike action because the union agreed to keep working for now.
Biden Demands Railroads Strike Must Be Averted
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has asserted his demand that the railroads strike must be prevented. Biden in a statement asked the railroads and unions to reach a deal to avert strike actions.
Similarly, many companies trying to also prevent a strike that could cripple the economy called for a peaceful resolution. Many businesses also urged Congress to intervene in the dispute and block a strike if an agreement wasn’t reached. The companies explained that they rely on rails to deliver their raw materials and finished products, hence a railroad strike cannot be allowed.
Recall that President Biden previously enacted a special panel of arbitrators to resolve the issue. The Presidential Emergency Board had recommended the biggest increase in rail workers’ salary. But they failed to resolve the unions’ concerns about working conditions. Instead, the board said the unions should pursue additional negotiations or arbitration that can take years with each railroad individually.
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Notably, four other railroad unions have approved their agreements with freight railroads including BNSF, Union Pacific, Kansas City Southern, among others. However, all 12 unions representing 115,000 workers must ratify their contracts to prevent a railroad strike.
Moreover, another union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, initially rejected its deal but has since renegotiated a new contract. Voting will be completed in mid-November.
Rail Strike Actions Spreading Across The US
Meanwhile, several unions across the United States have been embarking on strike action to protest working conditions. About 10,000 members of the United Auto Workers at farm equipment maker John Deere went on strike last fall after rejecting an agreement.
Similarly, workers at cereal maker Kellogg also rejected a tentative deal and decided to stay on strike recently before finally agreeing to a deal. Furthermore, support for labor unions in the US has grown over the past year.
According to the labor action tracker at Cornell University, strikes in 2022 so far have outpaced strike activity in 2021. There are over 180 strikes involving 78,000 workers in the first six months of 2022. Moreover, this is significantly higher when compared with 102 strikes involving 26,500 workers in the first six months of 2021. The tracker recorded 41 strikes that started between 15 August and 15 September 2022, involving 35,250 workers.
