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Railroad strike update: SMART-TD rejects Biden Admin deal. What are rail unions asking for?
USA Today ^ | 11/29/22

Posted on 11/29/2022 12:27:14 PM PST by EBH

President Biden has asked Congress to intervene in a labor dispute between rail workers and their employers, hoping to quell an impending strike with the potential to upend the American economy.

SMART Transportation Division, SMART-TD for short, a union representing conductors in the rail industry has rejected a deal brokered by the Biden Administration, upending the White House's efforts to avoid a strike before the holidays. With 51% of SMART-TD's members voting in opposition of the deal, the workers are poised to either strike, or be locked out by rail companies on Dec. 9.

A potential strike could have devastating effects on the nation's supply chain and economic health. Much of the country's goods still travel by freight train. Ahead of the holiday season, a halting in the shipment of food products, and other critical goods could debilitate the economy.

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Government
KEYWORDS: railroad; supplychain; unions
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1 posted on 11/29/2022 12:27:14 PM PST by EBH
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To: EBH; Roman_War_Criminal; SaveFerris; null and void; Tilted Irish Kilt; Pollard

Ping.


2 posted on 11/29/2022 12:28:29 PM PST by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith…)
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To: EBH

They do not have a true right to destroy the economy for their own personal gain. This is corruption at its worst.


3 posted on 11/29/2022 12:32:40 PM PST by Wpin ("I Have Sworn Upon the Altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny...")
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To: EBH

I can’t believe railroad companies do not allow workers time off for medical visits There has to be more to what the unions are demanding
And a 25% pay raise plus $5,000 bonus over 5 years is a good deal to most of us


4 posted on 11/29/2022 12:43:00 PM PST by RWGinger (LGB)
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To: EBH

Where’s Butt-gig?


5 posted on 11/29/2022 12:43:57 PM PST by dodger
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To: EBH

Tell the press remind Biden he solved this strike weeks ago, and they lapped it up and sang his war songs before the election.


6 posted on 11/29/2022 12:50:00 PM PST by SaxxonWoods (The only way to secure your own future is to create it yourself.)
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To: EBH
A potential strike could have devastating effects on the nation's supply chain and economic health.

- . - .

Gee, what if it were a real strike?

7 posted on 11/29/2022 12:52:18 PM PST by pa_dweller (Let's all go out for ice cream.)
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To: Wpin

“They do not have a true right to destroy the economy for their own personal gain.”

You might consider what they are arguing about. The twelve unions in the fold of this have been working together to come up with a few of the problems they consider in need of change and have already promoted them to the feds who turned them down. And to be honest, I see a lot of normal needs the federal and state government employees have in place within the union list of considerations.

The railroad unions are asking freight and railway companies for a pay increase, as well as better working conditions, including paid time off and a more flexible schedule. The railroad contract negotiations, which have been taking place between the railway unions and their major employers for almost three years, have involved heated debate over an attendance policy that union members says is oppressive. Unions have threatened to strike over members’ inability to take time off for medical visits and family emergencies without fear of punishment.

Some companies had introduced unpopular points-based attendance systems as well, an unwelcome move among union members, who were already stretched thin because of the coronavirus pandemic and working on an on-call schedule. In the tentative agreement reached recently and announced by the White House, railroad unions were granted wage increases, bonuses and no increases to insurance copays and deductibles. But that still doesn’t address the problems associated with family needs and an extended on call schedule that is not conducive to maintaining a normal family existence. The schedules are of particular concern with rail workers citing a lack of sick leave, inability to routinely visit the doctor or tend to family emergencies, and weekslong stretches of being on call is taking money out of their paychecks.

This problem has gone on too long with the federal and state governments ramrodding a close to slave labor situation removing many things essential to the employees.

wy69


8 posted on 11/29/2022 1:01:10 PM PST by whitney69
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To: EBH

FWIW, the actual deadline is Dec2. They will shutdown Friday. They cannot have dangerous chemicals stranded nowhere.


9 posted on 11/29/2022 1:03:05 PM PST by griswold3 (Truth, Beauty and Goodness )
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To: griswold3

As long as the government continues to
butt into the negotiations, the rail companies will refuse to negotiate.


10 posted on 11/29/2022 1:30:57 PM PST by tom paine 2
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To: whitney69

Pensions and health bennies are not an issue...?


11 posted on 11/29/2022 1:32:23 PM PST by mewzilla (We will never restore the republic if we don't first secure the ballot box.)
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To: EBH

The deal that was on the table apparently...

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/11/28/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-averting-a-rail-shutdown/

Get a load of this...

“...The deal provides a historic 24% pay raise for rail workers. It provides improved health care benefits. And it provides the ability of operating craft workers to take unscheduled leave for medical needs...”

What a giveaway.


12 posted on 11/29/2022 1:36:45 PM PST by mewzilla (We will never restore the republic if we don't first secure the ballot box.)
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To: mewzilla

Its a 24% pay raise over 5 years.

I actually want a strike to happen, so all the expert “know it all types” on Free Republic can voice their opinions.

We’ll get to hear about robots, automation, Union bosses, Ayn Rand books, etc.

It’ll be hilarious and very entertaining.


13 posted on 11/29/2022 1:51:09 PM PST by unclebankster (Globalism is the last refuge of a scoundrel)
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To: dodger

Where’s Butt-gig?


Busy having his butt plugged


14 posted on 11/29/2022 1:52:09 PM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: mewzilla

4 of the 12 unions did not accept this deal. The 4 are the hold outs. The others will honor the strike, however.


15 posted on 11/29/2022 1:56:02 PM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: unclebankster

Does the fact that it’s spread out over 5 years make it affordable?

And the associated pension and thehealth bennies costs will dwarf the salary issue.

If it were up to me, anyone who strikes would be fired.


16 posted on 11/29/2022 2:00:50 PM PST by mewzilla (We will never restore the republic if we don't first secure the ballot box.)
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To: mewzilla
“...The deal provides a historic 24% pay raise for rail workers"

That supposed 24% includes a one time only "signing bonus" of $5,000 as well as retro pay for the three years the workers labored without contracts. If the new contract is for three years, what with inflation running rampant, the "historic pay raise" takes on a slight!y different complexion.

But of course if you wish to take the word of this administration as presented in its press releases, then that is your prerogative.

17 posted on 11/29/2022 2:01:25 PM PST by Roccus (First we beat the Nazis........then we defeated the Soviets....... Now, we are them.)
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To: PIF
4 of the 12 unions did not accept this deal. The 4 are the hold outs. The others will honor the strike, however.

SSDD.

18 posted on 11/29/2022 2:01:39 PM PST by mewzilla (We will never restore the republic if we don't first secure the ballot box.)
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To: Roccus

It’s not just the salaries.

It’s pensions.

It’s the healthcare bennies.

Don’t like what you’re getting, find a new job.

Strike? Get fired.


19 posted on 11/29/2022 2:03:01 PM PST by mewzilla (We will never restore the republic if we don't first secure the ballot box.)
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To: unclebankster

Is that 5 years into the future?
Or is the past 3 years the unions worked without a contract included in that 5?


20 posted on 11/29/2022 2:06:56 PM PST by Roccus (First we beat the Nazis........then we defeated the Soviets....... Now, we are them.)
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