Nationwide Rail Strike Again a Possibility, as Third-Largest Railway Union Rejects Tentative Agreement

The third-largest freight railway workers union, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division (BMWED) of the Teamsters union, reported on Monday (10-10-22) that 56% of its more than 11,000 workers had voted against accepting the US Class 1 freight railroads’ tentative agreement offer.

There were several points of contention, according to the union membership, with the biggest being that the agreement did not address the number of unpaid sick days for which workers would be eligible and left that to be negotiated in the future.

The rejection of the agreement by the BMWED sets into motion a “status quo” period in which the union will resume negotiations with the large freight carriers.

The Associated Press (AP) is reporting that the union will delay any strike until five days after Congress reconvenes in mid-November to allow time for additional negotiations.

The National Carriers’ Conference Committee, which represents the US freight railroads in national collective bargaining negotiations, issued a brief statement saying it was “disappointed” with the decision.