Biden administration jumps into rail, union talks hoping to avert strike [View all]
A work stoppage threatens more snarls in the country’s supply chain and fuel for inflation.
By ELEANOR MUELLER and TANYA SNYDER
09/07/2022 02:59 PM EDT
Labor Secretary Marty Walsh participated in a meeting Wednesday between the National Mediation Board, the country’s largest rail carriers and eight unions in hopes of preventing a strike, a DOL spokesperson confirmed to POLITICO. [snip]
Negotiators will meet again with the NMB Thursday and Friday in hopes of reaching a tentative agreement before Sept. 16, when a so-called cooling-off period will end and unionized workers will have the option of walking off the job.
Such a work stoppage runs the risk of stymieing the U.S.’ supply chain at a point when the system is already strained, prices are historically high, and the peak season for agricultural commodities is just around the corner.
Even if negotiators can reach tentative agreements for all 13 unions by Friday, they would still need to be ratified by the unions’ respective members — a process that could take weeks and likely surpass the Sept. 16 cut-off. A strike at that point would be unlikely unless members vote the tentative agreements down.
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/09/07/biden-administration-rail-workers-unions-00055222
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