· As 10 of 12 rail unions struck a contract deal with the help of the Presidential Emergency Board all eyes have been on the 2 contact hold outs and how this will impact rail service. Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the International Association of Sheet Metal Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART) are the two largest unions with more than 90,000 Rail staff represented by these organizations.
· The contract negations stalled earlier this year and to avoid possible slowdowns and even walk offs that would undoubtedly create a major hiccup in cargo movement across the US a board was put in place by the White House to help move the negations back on track. Most contracts agreements were reached with a salary increase and bonus payments to employees.
· However, since the two largest unions did not reach an agreement the US freight railroads will reduce service effective Monday September 12, 2022. This is ahead of the possible strike on September 16, 2022, The BLET and SMART unions would not confirm there would be no walk offs on this date. If a strike does in fact incur this would have major implications to the trucking industry and possibly even cause an increased spot market rates as cargo may be redirected to keep needed goods coming into the US.
Monday September 12, 2022
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