349:
Early on
September 15, Biden announced a deal had been reached to prevent a strike, including an immediate 14% wage increase, but only one day of paid leave per year rather than the 15 days of paid sick leave unions wanted. The deal still needed to be ratified by rank-and-file members of the unions,
221:
implemented a points attendance system named "Hi Viz" that a union president called, "the worst and most egregious attendance policy ever adopted by any rail carrier." In the system, each worker starts with 30 points and loses points for taking a day off. Workers can accrue 4 points by being on-call
820:
189:
The companies and unions had been negotiating since 2019 and began mediation in June 2021. Biden convened a
Presidential Emergency Board in July 2022, which issued recommendations and a 30-day cooling off period that expired on September 16, 2022. There were significant concerns that a freight rail
385:
In late
November, after some unions had rejected the agreement, Biden asked Congress to pass the agreement into law. On November 30, the House of Representatives passed the existing tentative agreement along with an amended version that would require railroad employers to ensure 7 days paid sick
222:
for 14 straight days, but any time off, even for illness or a family emergency, resets the clock. Unions representing about 17,000 workers threatened to strike over the points system, but BNSF Railway sued and won a restraining order to prevent the unions from striking.
821:"Executive Order on Establishing an Emergency Board to Investigate Disputes Between Certain Railroads Represented by the National Carriers' Conference Committee of the National Railway Labor Conference and Their Employees Represented by Certain Labor Organizations"
990:
315:
stated, "I have been notified by the
National Mediation Board that in its judgment these disputes threaten substantially to interrupt interstate commerce to a degree that would deprive a section of the country of essential transportation service."
386:
leave. On
December 1, the Senate passed the tentative agreement with only 1 day of sick leave. President Joe Biden signed the legislation into law on December 2. The Biden administration's intervention in the dispute was condemned by over 500
114:
206:
has resulted in resource and staffing cuts; to compensate railroad companies have enacted strict attendance policies for employees. These policies eliminate any free time which workers have, requiring them to be effectively
178:
between freight railroads and workers in the United States. Rail companies and unions had tentatively agreed to a deal in
September 2022, but it was rejected by a majority of the unions' rank-and-file members. Congress and
409:
would not be impacted by any strike or lockout, as it is not owned or dispatched by freight railroads. Following Biden's announcement that a deal had been reached, Amtrak announced it was resuming normal service.
1000:
257:
245:
106:
102:
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reported that the board proposed "annual wage increases of between 4% and 7% through 2024" in addition to retroactive pay increases, one extra paid day off and five $ 1,000 annual bonuses.
418:
In
February 2023, CSX announced a deal to provide four days of paid sick leave annually, plus the option of converting three personal days into additional paid sick time with two unions.
1309:
875:
94:
366:
introduced a bill that would have required labor unions to agree to the terms proposed by the
Presidential Emergency Board, to prevent a strike. It was blocked by Senator
708:
737:
1111:
1289:
847:
1304:
1299:
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86:
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announced the preemptive cancellation of several services in anticipation of the strike, including all long-distance services on
September 15. The
253:
126:
1015:
118:
110:
991:"Burr, Wicker Introduce Resolution Calling for Adoption of Biden Administration Rail Recommendations If Voluntary Agreements Are Not Reached"
680:
1218:
542:
241:
186:
The new contract contains an immediate 14% wage increase and 24% salary increase over five years, plus one day of paid leave per year.
130:
903:
263:
Of the railways involved in the dispute, six bargained together, forming the
National Carriers Conference Committee. These six were
1279:
1137:
191:
375:
249:
98:
936:
214:
Rail companies and unions representing workers have been negotiating since 2019 when the contracts were up for amendment.
1163:
506:
427:
326:
By the end of August, three unions representing about 15,000 workers agreed to the recommendations made by the board.
964:
469:
337:
122:
346:
reported that Biden was "personally involved in the talks", wanting workers to have more flexibility in scheduling.
319:
The board issued a report on August 16, starting a 30-day cooling off period that prevents any strikes or lockouts.
1314:
330:
1284:
1255:
203:
1043:
90:
240:
Ten of the twelve unions involved negotiated together under the Coordinated Bargaining Coalition, while the
304:
280:
153:
1260:
1077:
641:
573:
1191:
908:
474:
350:
however no strike could take place for several weeks regardless of the outcomes of ratification votes.
432:
284:
765:
246:
International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers – Mechanical Division
770:
292:
268:
234:
145:
1247:
1251:
709:"'What Choice Do I Have?' Freight Train Conductors Are Forced to Work Tired, Sick, and Stressed"
382:
said, "We’d rather see negotiations prevail so there’s no need for any actions from Congress."
264:
237:
has mediated negotiations between multiple freight railroads and unions starting in June 2021.
230:
68:
50:
848:"Exclusive: Biden's emergency board calls for railroad wage hikes to resolve contract talks"
1319:
1020:
738:"'The Worst and Most Egregious Attendance Policy' Is Pushing Railroad Workers to the Brink"
8:
511:
342:
211:
for weeks at a time. Workers have complained of increased levels of stress and fatigue.
1219:"Rail workers never stopped fighting for paid sick days. Now persistence is paying off"
766:"BNSF Railway wins another court battle in dispute with union over availability policy"
646:
406:
272:
233:
the authority to intervene in any railway or airline strike. Under this authority, the
183:
intervened to pass the tentative agreement into law on December 2, averting a strike.
1112:"More than 500 Labor Historians Condemn Biden's Intervention in Freight Rail Dispute"
1085:
1051:
651:
581:
516:
226:
157:
1141:
876:"Freight railroads, some unions reach contract deals covering 15,000 U.S. workers"
1192:"Amtrak to restore all canceled train routes following tentative labor agreement"
742:
312:
437:
367:
1044:"House Passes Bill to Avert a Rail Strike, Moving to Impose a Labor Agreement"
340:
between the railroad companies, and unions in an attempt to prevent a strike.
1273:
1089:
1055:
655:
585:
520:
387:
175:
149:
1264:
1196:
904:"Rail Workers Reject Contract Recommendations, Say They're Ready to Strike"
379:
363:
359:
276:
218:
137:
935:
Mueller, Eleanor; Snyder, Tanya; Niedzwiadek, Nick (September 14, 2022).
391:
333:
937:"Rail talks drag on as strike deadline looms, workers prepare to picket"
995:
371:
685:
681:"Freight Rail Unions Reach Tentative Agreement That May Avoid Strike"
370:, who noted that freight rail workers receive a "grand total of zero
308:
180:
1168:
1016:"Sanders blocks proposal to force rail unions to accept labor deal"
965:"House votes to avert rail strike, provide workers paid sick leave"
941:
798:
615:
1164:"Amtrak cancels all long-distance routes amid looming rail strike"
880:
852:
547:
507:"Biden scores deal on rail strike, but worker discontent emerges"
320:
208:
611:"The supply chain's little-known weakest link: Railroad workers"
402:
288:
1138:"1 rail union rejects deal, 2 accept ahead of strike deadline"
260:, the union's transportation division, negotiated separately.
963:
Evers-Hillstrom, Karl; Schnell, Mychael (November 30, 2022).
248:(SMART-MD) bargained together. Although BMWE is part of the
793:
610:
374:" while railroad companies made significant profits. In the
256:(BLET), they negotiated separately. Similarly, SMART-MD and
543:"Biden calls on Congress to head off potential rail strike"
470:"Rail Unions Are Bargaining Over a Good Job Made Miserable"
642:"Biden Maneuvers to Try to Avoid Devastating Rail Strike"
574:"Biden Signs Legislation to Avert Nationwide Rail Strike"
572:
Kanno-Youngs, Zolan; Cochrane, Emily (December 2, 2022).
329:
On September 14, near the end of the cooling off period,
141:
934:
505:
Gurley, Lauren Kaori; Stein, Jeff (September 15, 2022).
1310:
Rail transportation labor disputes in the United States
1078:"With Senate Vote, Congress Moves to Avert Rail Strike"
962:
846:
Shepardson, David; Baertlein, Lisa (August 16, 2022).
390:
in an open letter to Joe Biden and Secretary of Labor
307:
was convened under the Railway Labor Act by President
640:
Tankersley, Jim; Swanson, Ana (September 14, 2022).
571:
845:
639:
1271:
674:
672:
254:Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
901:
467:
298:
669:
353:
1190:Ortiz, Omar Rodríguez (September 15, 2022).
463:
461:
459:
457:
455:
453:
504:
1290:September 2022 events in the United States
902:DeManuelle-Hall, Joe (September 1, 2022).
873:
242:Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes
1305:December 2022 events in the United States
1300:November 2022 events in the United States
468:DeManuelle-Hall, Joe (February 2, 2022).
450:
172:2022 United States railroad labor dispute
24:2022 United States railroad labor dispute
1295:October 2022 events in the United States
1075:
1041:
1014:Bolton, Alexander (September 14, 2022).
791:
608:
1272:
1161:
1109:
1013:
764:Mantas, Harrison (February 22, 2022).
763:
735:
706:
678:
413:
250:International Brotherhood of Teamsters
1189:
1042:Cochrane, Emily (November 30, 2022).
930:
928:
926:
874:Shepardson, David (August 29, 2022).
794:"Biden steps into rail labor dispute"
1162:Picchi, Aimee (September 14, 2022).
1135:
1076:Cochrane, Emily (December 1, 2022).
989:Burr, Richard (September 12, 2022).
988:
731:
729:
679:Gordon, Aaron (September 15, 2022).
635:
633:
604:
602:
567:
565:
540:
500:
498:
496:
494:
492:
397:
13:
1110:Gordon, Aaron (December 2, 2022).
1069:
923:
792:Mueller, Eleanor (July 18, 2022).
428:1992 United States railroad strike
14:
1331:
1241:
1136:Funk, Josh (September 14, 2022).
726:
630:
609:Mueller, Eleanor (May 16, 2022).
599:
562:
534:
489:
358:In September 2022, U.S. Senators
707:Gordon, Aaron (April 18, 2022).
541:Funk, Josh (November 28, 2022).
190:strike would further exacerbate
1280:2022 labor disputes and strikes
1211:
1183:
1155:
1129:
1103:
1035:
1007:
982:
956:
895:
867:
839:
813:
785:
757:
736:Gordon, Aaron (April 5, 2022).
204:precision scheduled railroading
700:
1:
443:
197:
305:Presidential Emergency Board
299:Presidential Emergency Board
7:
421:
336:hosted negotiations at the
192:ongoing supply chain issues
60:Improved working conditions
10:
1336:
354:Congressional intervention
79:
74:
64:
56:
46:
36:
28:
23:
771:Fort Worth Star-Telegram
376:House of Representatives
235:National Mediation Board
146:Norfolk Southern Railway
1315:Presidency of Joe Biden
1285:2022 in rail transport
295:bargained separately.
1003:on December 29, 2022.
433:Norris–La Guardia Act
69:Collective bargaining
51:Precision railroading
16:Ongoing labor dispute
1263:bill information on
1256:US Statutes at Large
1254:) as enacted in the
281:Kansas City Southern
154:Kansas City Southern
32:2019 – December 2022
1225:. February 10, 2023
512:The Washington Post
414:Followup agreements
343:The Washington Post
338:Department of Labor
181:President Joe Biden
1248:Public Law 117–216
1082:The New York Times
1048:The New York Times
647:The New York Times
578:The New York Times
407:Northeast Corridor
331:Secretary of Labor
398:Impact on transit
285:Canadian National
252:, along with the
227:Railway Labor Act
217:In January 2022,
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158:Canadian National
85:12 labor unions:
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999:. Archived from
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487:
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465:
388:labor historians
303:In July 2022, a
293:Canadian Pacific
269:Norfolk Southern
81:
80:
21:
20:
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1334:
1330:
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1118:
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1040:
1036:
1026:
1024:
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1008:
987:
983:
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957:
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945:
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872:
868:
858:
856:
844:
840:
830:
828:
827:. July 15, 2022
825:The White House
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313:Executive order
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244:(BMWE) and the
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1265:Congress.gov
1229:February 11,
1227:. Retrieved
1222:
1213:
1201:. Retrieved
1197:Miami Herald
1195:
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1173:. Retrieved
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1145:. Retrieved
1131:
1119:. Retrieved
1115:
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1093:. Retrieved
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1061:November 30,
1059:. Retrieved
1047:
1037:
1025:. Retrieved
1019:
1009:
1001:the original
994:
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972:. Retrieved
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946:. Retrieved
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829:. Retrieved
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554:November 29,
552:. Retrieved
546:
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524:. Retrieved
510:
479:. Retrieved
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384:
380:Nancy Pelosi
364:Roger Wicker
360:Richard Burr
357:
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219:BNSF Railway
216:
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202:The rise of
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138:BNSF Railway
18:
1320:Marty Walsh
1261:H.J.Res.100
1203:December 9,
1095:December 2,
974:December 8,
909:Labor Notes
591:December 2,
475:Labor Notes
392:Marty Walsh
334:Marty Walsh
1274:Categories
1121:January 5,
996:Senate.gov
444:References
378:, Speaker
198:Background
1090:0362-4331
1056:0362-4331
713:Vice News
686:Vice News
656:0362-4331
586:0362-4331
521:0190-8286
372:sick days
309:Joe Biden
47:Caused by
1169:CBS News
1021:The Hill
969:The Hill
942:Politico
799:Politico
616:Politico
422:See also
258:SMART-TD
231:Congress
107:SMART-TD
103:SMART-MD
37:Location
881:Reuters
853:Reuters
548:AP News
321:Reuters
229:grants
209:on-call
75:Parties
65:Methods
1088:
1054:
654:
584:
519:
403:Amtrak
311:. His
289:Amtrak
283:, and
174:was a
57:Goals
1231:2023
1205:2022
1177:2022
1149:2022
1123:2023
1116:Vice
1097:2022
1086:ISSN
1063:2022
1052:ISSN
1029:2022
976:2022
950:2022
917:2022
889:2022
861:2022
833:2022
807:2022
779:2022
751:2022
743:Vice
720:2022
694:2022
663:2022
652:ISSN
624:2022
593:2022
582:ISSN
556:2022
528:2022
517:ISSN
483:2022
362:and
291:and
277:BNSF
225:The
170:The
131:BMWE
127:BLET
119:NCFO
111:IBEW
99:ATDA
29:Date
1252:PDF
1223:NPR
273:CSX
142:CSX
123:BRS
115:IBB
95:IAM
91:BRC
87:TCU
1276::
1221:.
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925:^
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