Rail Unions Make Demands Ahead of Possible Nationwide Rail Strike

Several rail unions have rejected the tentative contract agreement offered by the Biden administration in September. If no agreement is brokered, the nation is faced with the threat of an industry-wide strike as early as December 5. Workers are maintaining a list of priorities that must be met in order to avoid a rail strike, including paid sick leave. A strike by any one rail union would lead to a shutdown of America’s major freight railroads, as all the other unions, even those that have ratified contracts, would honor the picket lines.

The administration is hopeful that an agreement can be met; however, the Railway Labor Act grants Congress the ability to intervene in the case of a railway strike to impose a contract on the railroads to block or stop a rail strike. ASTA has joined industry-wide letters to both President Biden and Congress calling for action to avoid interruption to rail service. Additionally, ASTA remains engaged through a series of Hill meetings hosted by the Ag Transportation Working Group to urge members of Congress to intervene as the threat of a rail strike continues.