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☆ U.S. House set to approve bill to block rail strike
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on Wednesday to approve a bill to block a potentially crippling rail strike, but the fate of a separate proposal by lawmakers to mandate paid sick time remains uncertain. The influential business lobby group said the sick leave vote "would impose an unworkable, one-sided modification to a labor agreement." There are no paid short-term sick days under the tentative deal after unions asked for 15 and railroads settled on one personal day. But some labor leaders have criticized Biden for asking Congress to impose a contract that workers in four unions have rejected over its lack of paid sick leave. Both Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh are set to speak to Senate Democrats on Thursday about the rail labor issue.

Pelosi said the House would vote separately on Wednesday on a proposal to give seven days of paid sick leave to railroad employees. There are no paid sick days under the tentative deal after unions asked for 15 and railroads settled on one personal day. "Guaranteeing 7 paid sick days to rail workers would cost the rail industry a grand total of $321 million a year – less than 2% of its profits," Sanders said. The railroads oppose giving their workers paid sick time because they would have to hire more staff. "I can’t in good conscience vote for a bill that doesn’t give rail workers the paid leave they deserve," Representative Jamaal Bowman, a Democrat, said on Twitter.

☆ U.S. House votes to approve bill to block rail strike
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to approve a bill to block a potentially crippling rail strike, but the fate of a separate proposal by lawmakers to mandate paid sick time remains uncertain. A separate vote was ongoing on whether to give seven days of paid sick leave to railroad employees, which lawmakers said is also expected to pass the House but faces an uncertain fate in the Senate. "We know much more needs to be done for railroad workers," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. The influential business lobby group said the sick leave vote "would impose an unworkable, one-sided modification to a labor agreement." Both Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh are set to speak to Senate Democrats on Thursday about the rail labor issue.

WASHINGTON/LOS ANGELES, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives plans to vote Wednesday to block a potential a U.S. rail strike after President Joe Biden warned of the dire economic consequences of a rail disruption that could happen as early as Dec. 9. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said lawmakers will vote Wednesday to impose a tentative contract deal struck in September. At a White House meeting Tuesday with congressional leaders, the Democratic president was asked if he was confident he could avert a rail strike, and responded, "I am confident." Labor unions have criticized the railroads’ sick leave and attendance policies and the lack of paid sick days for short-term illness. There are no paid sick days under the tentative deal.

☆ Biden asks Congress to avert rail strike, warning of dire economic impact
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 28 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday called on Congress to intervene to avert a potential rail strike that could occur as early as Dec. 9, warning of the potential dire economic impact. Biden asked lawmakers to adopt the tentative deal announced in September "without any modifications or delay - to avert a potentially crippling national rail shutdown." "The risks to our nation’s economy and communities simply make a national rail strike unacceptable," says the letter to congressional leaders first reported by Reuters. "Therefore, absent a voluntary agreement, we call on you to take immediate steps to prevent a national rail strike and the certain economic destruction that would follow." If they do not, workers could strike or railroads could lock out employees - unless Congress intervenes.

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the transportation division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART-TD) -- representing about half of all unionized rail employees are set to report results. The standoff between U.S. railroad operators and their union workers disrupted flows of hazardous materials such as chemicals used in fertilizer and disrupted U.S. passenger railroad Amtrak service in September. The Biden administration helped avert a service cutoff by hosting last-minute contract talks in September at the Labor Department that led to a tentative contract deal. The unions represent 115,000 workers at railroads, including Union Pacific (UNP.N), Berkshire Hathaway Inc's (BRKa.N) BNSF, CSX (CSX.O), Norfolk Southern (NSC.N) and Kansas City Southern. Labor unions have criticized the railroads’ sick leave and attendance policies and the lack of paid sick days for short-term illness.

☆ JPMorgan says this railroad stock is a top pick, citing strength in grain shipments
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Canadian Pacific will gain momentum through the fourth quarter at a time when many companies are expecting the opposite, JPMorgan said. The rail company broke its all-time monthly tonnage record for grain shipments in October. He named Canadian Pacific a top pick and has an overweight rating. Grain shipments increased 9.8% in the third quarter compared to the same period a year ago. Canadian Pacific will benefit from a new investment in a hopper car fleet in the fourth quarter, he said.

☆ U.S. railroads, union extend strike deadline until at least Dec. 4
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 9 (Reuters) - A group representing major railroads and a union that voted to reject a new contract said Wednesday they had agreed to extend a potential strike deadline until at least Dec. 4. The NCCC said the "extension eliminates the threat of a near-term freight rail service disruption." Another union representing about 4,900 locomotive machinists, roadway mechanics, and facility maintenance personnel on Saturday narrowly ratified the tentative contract agreement. The union was the seventh of 12 to approve the deal, while BMWED and the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) union, representing more than 6,000 members, voted against the deal. The unions represent 115,000 workers at railroads, including Union Pacific (UNP.N), BNSF, CSX (CSX.O), Norfolk Southern (NSC.N) and Kansas City Southern.

☆ U.S. rail union representing 4,900 workers narrowly approves contract
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 5 (Reuters) - A labor union representing about 4,900 rail workers said on Saturday that members narrowly ratified a tentative contract agreement with freight railroads in the United States. The union representing locomotive machinists, roadway mechanics, and facility maintenance personnel is the seventh of 12 to approve the deal, while two unions previously voted to reject the national deal announced in mid-September. Last month, the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) union, representing more than 6,000 members, voted against the deal as did the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees (BMWED), which represents 11,000 workers. The rail deal included a 24% percent wage increase over a five-year period from 2020 through 2024 as well $1,000 lump sum payments in each of the next five years. The unions represent 115,000 workers at railroads including Union Pacific (UNP.N), BNSF, CSX (CSX.O), Norfolk Southern (NSC.N) and Kansas City Southern .

☆ More than 300 groups urge Biden involvement to avoid rail shutdown
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - More than 300 groups including the National Retail Federation and National Association of Manufacturers on Thursday urged President Joe Biden's involvement to help avoid a potential rail strike that could have significant impacts on the U.S. economy. On Wednesday, a second union voted against ratifying a national tentative agreement reached in mid-September, raising prospects of a labor disruption later this year. "If that were to be the case, we could witness a strike that would shut down the entire freight rail system." The unions represent 115,000 workers at railroads including Union Pacific (UNP.N), BNSF, CSX (CSX.O), Norfolk Southern (NSC.N) and Kansas City Southern . The rail deal included a 24% wage increase over a five-year period from 2020 through 2024 as well $1,000 lump sum payments in each of the next five years.

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