Largest Rail Union Rejects Biden Deal, Further Increasing Possibility Of National Rail Strike
Unless Congress intervenes, a strike or a lockout could occur as early as December 9th and could cripple the nation's supply chain.
On Sunday, two more rail unions concluded voting on the tentative railroad contract brokered in September by the Biden administration, with one union accepting the contract and another rejecting it, increasing the possibility of an economy-crippling national rail strike before the holidays.
On Monday, a joint statement by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART-TD) stated:
BLET members voted to accept a tentative agreement reached on September 15; SMART-TD train and engine service members have voted to reject their proposed contract, while SMART-TD yardmaster members voted to accept. BLET and SMART-TD are the two largest rail unions, accounting for half of the unionized workforce on the nation’s largest freight railroads.
The five-year agreement ratified by BLET members and SMART TD yardmaster members addresses rates of pay, health & welfare, and other fringe benefits for approximately 24,000 locomotive engineers and other rail workers represented by the union who are employed by the nation’s Class I railroads.
A record number of eligible BLET members participated in the ratification vote with 53.5% voting in favor and 46.5% voting against.
Turnout among the more than 28,000 eligible SMART-TD members was also a record high. 50.87% of train and engine service members represented by SMART-TD voted to reject the TA, while 62.48% of SMART-TD represented Yardmasters voted to ratify. Representatives from SMART-TD will now head back to the bargaining table with the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC), which represents railroad management, to negotiate new terms for the affected train and engine service members.
“A status quo agreement between SMART TD and management is in effect until December 8,” the unions stated. “Beginning on December 9, SMART-TD would be allowed to go on strike or the rail carriers would be permitted to lock out workers — unless Congress intervenes.”
“If there is a strike by SMART-TD or any of the other three rail unions that have rejected proposed contracts with the carriers, BLET and the other eight rail unions that have ratified agreements have pledged to lawfully honor their picket lines,” the unions announced.
To date, nine of thirteen agreements covering about half of all rail employees in the bargaining round have been successfully ratified and are now in effect, the National Carriers' Conference Committee (NCCC), the group representing the freight railroad companies, said in a statement.
“A national rail strike would severely impact the economy and the public,” the NCCC stated. “Now, the continued, near-term threat of one will require that freight railroads and passenger carriers soon begin to take responsible steps to safely secure the network in advance of any deadline.”