The possibility of a nationwide freight rail strike beginning as early as Dec. 9 moved one step closer when the union SMART-TD, one of the largest in contract talks with the six Class I freight carriers, turned down a tentative agreement negotiated in mid-September by Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and other officials.
November 21, 2022railroads
Government, Business, Logistics 
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December Strike Possible as Rail Union Rejects Labor Deal
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(Gene J. Puskar/The Associated Press)
Third Railroad Workers Union Turns Down Pact
(Gene J. Puskar/The Associated Press)The possibility of a nationwide freight railroad strike is increasing after another union turned down a tentative agreement that was negotiated in mid-September among the major Class I carriers, a management council and the Biden administration.
November 16, 2022 Government, Business, Logistics 
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Industry Groups Urge White House to Intercede on Rail Talks
JerryB7/Getty ImagesA coalition of 322 organizations that relies on the nation’s Class I freight railroads wrote a letter to President Joe Biden Oct. 27, urging the White House and administration officials to continue to seek a settlement in the increasingly bitter contract dispute that could result in a nationwide rail strike in November or December and could cause extensive damage to the U.S. economy.
October 31, 2022 Government, Business, Safety, Logistics 
CSX, Union Pacific, BNSF, Norfolk Southern, Kansas City Southern and other railroads are involved in the talks. (Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg)
Large Rail Union Rejects Deal
CSX, Union Pacific, BNSF, Norfolk Southern, Kansas City Southern and other railroads are involved in the talks. (Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg)OMAHA, Neb. — The U.S.’s third-largest railroad union rejected a deal with employers Oct. 10, renewing the possibility of a strike that could cripple the economy. Both sides will return to the bargaining table before that happens.
October 11, 2022 Government, Business, Safety, Logistics 
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Rail Strike Threat Exposes Supply Chain Vulnerability
Getty ImagesThe threat of a nationwide strike by railroad workers that could have shut down the nation’s freight trains exposed vulnerabilities in the supply chain that could have proved devastating to the economy.
October 6, 2022 Government, Business, Safety, Logistics 
Damaged boats and structures in Fort Myers Beach, Fla. (Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press)
Ian Triggers Port, Rail Closures, Straining Supply Chain
Damaged boats and structures in Fort Myers Beach, Fla. (Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press)Major ports and rail facilities across the U.S. Southeast have halted operations as one of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit the country advances as a tropical storm, causing disruptions along the way and resulting in another blow for already strained supply chains.
September 29, 2022 Government, Business, Logistics 
A Norfolk Southern freight train runs through a crossing in Homestead, Pa. (Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press)
Rail Union That Rejected Deal Signs New Tentative Agreement
A Norfolk Southern freight train runs through a crossing in Homestead, Pa. (Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press)OMAHA, Neb. — A union that rejected its deal with the nation’s freight railroads earlier this month now has a new tentative agreement, but officials cautioned that the contract dispute won’t be fully settled until all 12 rail unions approve their agreements this fall.
September 27, 2022 Government, Business, Logistics 
Stephen Lyons by Dan Ronan/Transport Topics
Supply Chain Envoy Stephen Lyons Optimistic on Rail, Port Negotiations
Stephen Lyons by Dan Ronan/Transport TopicsCHICAGO — White House Supply Chain Envoy Stephen Lyons said Sept. 20 he believes the recently negotiated tentative agreement between the five Class I railroads and unions — representing 150,000 railroad locomotive engineers, conductors and railroad workers — will be ratified.
September 20, 2022 Government, Business, Safety, Logistics 
A Norfolk Southern freight train makes it way through Homestead, Pa. Railroad management has reached tentative agreements with some unions prior to the Sept. 16 contract deadline. (Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press)
Rail Talks Watched as Contract Deadline Nears
A Norfolk Southern freight train makes it way through Homestead, Pa. Railroad management has reached tentative agreements with some unions prior to the Sept. 16 contract deadline. (Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press)As shippers and retailers head into the peak shopping season, ongoing labor negotiations are being closely watched for any signs of disruption, which experts say would have a huge impact on the U.S. economy.
September 13, 2022 Government, Business, Logistics 
CSX, Union Pacific, BNSF, Norfolk Southern, Kansas City Southern and other railroads are involved in the talks. (Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg)
Unions Blast Rail Move to Delay Shipments Before Deadline
CSX, Union Pacific, BNSF, Norfolk Southern, Kansas City Southern and other railroads are involved in the talks. (Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg)OMAHA, Neb. — The heads of the nation’s two largest rail unions said Sept. 11 that the freight railroads’ move to begin delaying some shipments ahead of this week’s looming strike deadline is only an attempt to get shippers to increase the pressure on Congress to intervene and block a work stoppage by imposing a contract on workers.
September 12, 2022