By Justin Franz
WASHINGTON — Political leaders were moving quickly Tuesday to try and avoid a nationwide rail shutdown in less than two weeks by forcing four unions to accept the terms of a Tentative Agreement their members have rejected.
The call for action began on Monday night, when President Joe Biden said he would ask Congress to pass legislation to avoid a strike or lockout, which could happen as early as December 9. On Tuesday morning, Congressional leaders said they agreed and would put forward legislation by Wednesday morning.
Biden’s request comes a week after the nation’s two largest rail unions decided to go in different directions on the agreement negotiated by their leadership: Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen voted in favor of the agreement (53.5% for and 46.5% against), while a slight majority of SMART Transportation Division members (50.87%) voted against the contract.
While Biden has long been seen as a friend of unions, White House officials were concerned about a rail strike that could cost the economy $2 billion per day, especially right before the holidays.
Rail shippers and industry groups, including the Association of American Railroads, praised the president for his call to action. But union members were less than thrilled that the long-time ally was asking for Congress to step in. In a statement on Tuesday, leaders of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division said that forcing the Tentative Agreement on its members would not address the “disease” within the industry. Specifically, Wall Street-driven cuts resulting from the adoption of Precision Scheduled Railroading.
“It is not enough to ‘share workers’ concerns.’ A call to Congress to act immediately to pass legislation that adopts tentative agreements that exclude paid sick leave ignores the Railroad Workers’ concerns. It both denies Railroad Workers their right to strike while also denying them of the benefit they would likely otherwise obtain if they were not denied their right to strike,” the union’s leadership wrote. “Additionally, passing legislation to adopt tentative agreements that exclude paid sick leave for Railroad Workers will not address rail service issues. Rather, it will worsen supply chain issues and further sicken, infuriate, and disenfranchise Railroad Workers as they continue shouldering the burdens of the railroads’ mismanagement.”
