President Biden Asks Congress to Prevent a Nationwide Class 1 Freight Railroad Strike or Lockout

With the December 9th deadline for a US Class 1 freight railroad worker strike or operating railroads lockout rapidly approaching, and with 400 trade groups pleading for action, President Joe Biden on Monday (11-28-22) asked Congress to step in and pass legislation that would compel the railroads and unions to adopt the new agreement “well in advance of December 9th so we can avoid disruption.”

Eight of the twelve unions involved in the negotiations have had union member approval to accept an agreement that was reached in September.

The remaining four unions continue to negotiate with the National Carrier’s Conference Committee (NCCC), which represents the freight railroads in the national collective bargaining process. However, all parties continue to report that they have been unable to find common ground on the remaining issues, the greatest being paid sick leave.

In a statement issued yesterday (11-28-22), Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi said:

“This week, the House will take up a bill adopting the Tentative Agreement—with no poison pills or changes to the negotiated terms—and send it to the Senate. It is my hope that this necessary, strike-averting legislation will earn a strongly bipartisan vote, giving America’s families confidence in our commitment to protecting their financial futures.”