Shippers ratchet up warnings about impact of potential rail strike

The National Industrial Transportation League, the largest and oldest group of rail shippers, has asked congressional leaders to prevent a railroad strike or lockout that could begin as early as 12:01 a.m. on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Class I railroads today reached a tentative agreement with the National Conference of Firemen & Oilers, SEIU, the ninth such deal reached with rail labor since the Presidential Emergency Board issued its contract recommendations last month.

The unions representing locomotive engineers, conductors, yardmasters, and signal workers have yet to reach tentative deals with the railroads’ negotiating arm, the National Carriers’ Conference Committee. Although negotiations continue – and President Joe Biden and members of his cabinet talked with rail and labor leaders on Monday – the two sides seem far apart.