The White House has contingency plans in place if the railroad workers go on strike.
Jean-Pierre said that they are working with other modes of transportation to see how they can step in and keep goods moving. The administration is assessing what supply chains and commodities are most likely to be disrupted.
President Joe Biden and several cabinet secretaries, including the departments of Labor, Agriculture and Transportation, have been in talks with both the railroad unions and the companies for months to try to avoid a strike. She said the administration has held many calls and meetings about it.
If they were not to reach a resolution, American families, businesses, farmers and communities would suffer, Jean-Pierre said.
Railroad workers are threatening to go on strike if their demands aren't met. Unpaid sick time and the ability to take off work for doctor's appointments are issues that are hanging up negotiations.
BNSF Railway instituted a points-based attendance system in February that led to the resignation of more than 700 union workers. Railroad companies say workers already have generous leave policies, but labor leaders say workers can't take days off because they aren't on a schedule.
The National Carriers' Conference Committee says that eight of the twelve unions have reached tentative agreements with the railroad carriers.
Half of the railroad union workers are represented by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the SMART transportation division. About 60,000 railroad workers are ready to go on strike if a deal isn't reached by Friday.
People are encouraged to stay at the negotiation table to come up with a solution. Jean-Pierre said that it's important because of what this could mean to the American people.
Rail is used to move 40% of the nation's long-distance trade. If the unions went on strike, more than 7,000 trains would be off the road.
Americans are already feeling the effects of a strike. Parts of the Texas Eagle route between Los Angeles and San Antonio and the Southwest Chief route between Chicago and the West Coast were canceled by Amtrak.
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