Another Railroad Union Rejects Contract

Nov. 21, 2022

Strike is tentatively set for Dec. 9 unless something changes.

The threat of a nationwide rail strike is looming closer after a tentative deal was voted down by one of the unions representing freight train workers.

A strike could be called as early as Dec. 9 after a contract offer was rejected, in a vote announced Nov. 21, by a subset of the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, Transportation union. The pact has already been voted down by two other rail unions.

The tentative contract had been reached in September following intervention by the Biden administration. However, rank-and-file members complained that it does not add sick time nor address the problem of rail companies expecting workers to always be on call.

Congress could in theory order workers not to strike, or force them to go back to work, by declaring a strike a threat to national security. About 30% of the nation’s goods move by rail.

About the Author

Pan Demetrakakes | Senior Editor

Pan has written about the food and beverage industry for more than 25 years. His areas of coverage have included formulations, processing, packaging, marketing and retailing. Pan worked for Food Processing Magazine for six years in the 1990s, where he was operations editor (his current role), touring dozens of food plants of every description. He has also worked for Packaging and Food & Beverage Packaging magazines, the latter as chief editor, during which he won three ASBPE awards. He is a graduate of Stanford University with a BA in communications.