President Joe Biden announced early Thursday morning that major freight rail companies and unions had reached a tentative deal to avoid a damaging national rail strike.
A rail strike has been averted, according to Biden.
A tentative agreement on pay and working conditions has been reached between railroad companies and unions, according to the White House.
The agreement would see better pay, improved working conditions, and peace of mind around their health care costs for workers, as well as allow railway companies to retain and recruit more workers, according to Biden.
Biden said it is an important win for the economy.
Biden thanked Labor Secretary Marty Walsh for brokering late night talks to get the deal done before the strike deadline.
The Washington Post reported that a key demand of the tentative agreement is that workers be allowed time off for medical care without being subject to discipline.
The unions involved in the deal have yet to comment on the issue.
Talks between rail companies and union negotiators lasted for more than 20 hours, according to Walsh. He described the agreement as one that balances the needs of workers, businesses, and our nation's economy and averts a strike that would have had catastrophic impacts on industries, travelers and families.
Union members will vote on the deal. It's not clear when this will happen or how long it will take, but workers have agreed not to strike while the vote is being counted.
Since negotiations began in early 2020, unions and rail companies have been at odds over working conditions, pay and other issues. Even a brief strike would hurt American consumers and the economy at a crucial political moment, and could cost an estimated $2 billion a day, as well as disrupt food deliveries, power and other goods before the mid-term elections. Biden and the majority leader of the House considered intervening to prevent a shut-down of freight operations. Biden has to balance the upcoming elections and economic recovery with his pledge to be the most pro-union president in history.
The White House is involved in a railroad dispute.
Biden is facing an economic disaster that he can stop.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
