A nationwide strike of railroad workers, set to begin tomorrow has been avoided with a tentative agreement between twelve labor unions and railroad companies. After hours of negotiation involving Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and President Biden, the two sides agreed to a compromise that gives the unions much of what they were asking for. It was a call from Biden as the negotiators were nearing a deal that sealed it, as Biden urged them to consider the impact on average Americans of a crippling strike.
The agreement includes many benefits for the unions, as Biden described:
"These rail workers will get better pay, improved working conditions, and peace of mind around their health care costs: all hard-earned,” Biden said. “The agreement is also a victory for railway companies who will be able to retain and recruit more workers for an industry that will continue to be part of the backbone of the American economy for decades to come."
A railroad workers strike just weeks before the mid-term elections would have plunged the economy into chaos, as one-third of goods shipped are shipped by rail including food, automobiles and fuel.
The agreement, which will be voted on by union members after a "cooling off" period of a few weeks -- past the mid-terms -- is another win for Biden after a summer of legislative victories.
(photo: Shakat Anowar/AP)
