Railroad strike.

[flogger]

This does not look good for the Biden administration and Dems in Congress. It makes you wonder why it comes down to a desperate response to a deadline, a deadline everyone (insert Pelosi) has known about for quite a while.

Nice time to avert the attention of the public away from all the other issues. Congress will continue to kick the can down the road and keep the Government going with another spending stamp of approval, just like the last how many years?
Sorry to say, I don't trust ANY of them.

Back to the Railroad Union strike, it would be crippling for the economy and probably won't happen, but there are going to be a lot of pissed off union workers/voters, and not just railroad union members.

[BlasterBob]

Keep in mind that AMTRAK would also stop running and that’d piss off many of the Christmas season travelers.

[TEAMRICO]

Oh no, think of the Hobos!

[electronman1729]

Keep in mind that AMTRAK would also stop running and that’d piss off many of the Christmas season travelers.

Since when do people ride Amtrack?

[Scanker19]

Since when do people ride Amtrack?

Since I’ve been a hobo.

[3beansalad]

Keep in mind that AMTRAK would also stop running and that’d piss off many of the Christmas season travelers.

This should have a positive impact on the federal deficit!

[rondog]

Since when do people ride Amtrack?

I didn't even know it was still running, haven't seen one in years - but I don't get out much, and not near any RR lines.

And wasn't there a threat of a RR strike last year or so? Or was that trucks?

[BushMasterBoy]

Drake and Comanche power plants run on coal. Coal that is delivered by train. Colorado Springs and Pueblo would suffer greatly.

[eddiememphis]

"Since last winter, railroad unions and the managers of America's seven dominant freight-rail carriers have been struggling to come to an agreement on a new contract."

"Unlike nearly 80 percent of U.S. laborers, railroad employees are not currently guaranteed a single paid sick day. Rather, if such workers wish to recuperate from an illness or make time to see a doctor about a nagging complaint, they need to use vacation time, which must be requested days in advance."

"In recent days, the Biden administration has sought to nullify that threat (the strike) by asking Congress to impose the tentative agreement on the industry before the strike deadline of December 9"

"Senators passed the bill to force unions to accept a tentative agreement reached earlier this year between railroad managers and their workers and make an imminent strike illegal."

Amtrak is unlikely to be affected, this about freight systems. However some of the tracks themselves are owned by the freight companies and may be shut down to commuter traffic. Of course, the government run Amtrak shut down routes regardless.

Railroad unions are very ineffective if they can't get paid time off for their members.

I don't know how Congress can pass a law requiring a union to accept on offer from a business.

I understand the necessity of making sure the trains keep running. I have read as much as 80% of goods in the country are on a train at some point.

A very good explanation from the BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-63798110 not what I quoted above- that was from several different sources that I too lazy to reference.

[flogger]

Another example of our government's ignorance of truly important issues. I guess that same sex marriage bill the Senate passed was WAY more important than averting a major supply problem of goods in the country, what a bunch of clowns, R&D together.

Good comments on how important the rail system is, coal for power, fertilizer for food, chlorine for drinking water, lumber/building materials, people and a lot more.

I was in a Carpenters Union in the 1970's (heavy power plant construction) and can sympathize with the union members. They have been working on this for a while and nothing happens, I wouldn't blame them for calling President Mumbles bluff and shutting it down.