Unionized railroad workers in the U.S. have rejected a tentative labour agreement, raising the
risk of a national rail strike in America.
More than 6,600 members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees voted against
the labour deal compared to 5,100 votes in favour of the tentative agreement.
The maintenance union is one of more than a dozen labour groups that must accept the deal for
a rail strike to be averted. The earliest date that a strike could occur is November 19.
The latest union vote signals ongoing discontent regarding pay, working conditions, and sick
leave policies among more than 100,000 rail workers in America.
Contentious labour talks were at an impasse until President Biden and his administration
intervened to help secure a tentative deal hours before a national strike was to take place.
It is estimated that 40% of long-haul U.S. cargo would be impacted by a national work stoppage
at the railroads.
So far, four other unions have approved the new labour deal, while seven more unions are
scheduled to vote on it through mid-November.
If one union were to go on strike, others could refuse to cross the picket line, and rail companies
could respond with a nationwide lockout.
The last rail shutdown in the U.S. occurred in 1992.
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