American consumers and nearly every U.S. industry will be affected if freight trains grind to a halt next month, reports the Associated Press.
One of the biggest rail unions rejected a deal last week, joining three others that have failed to approve contracts over concerns about demanding schedules and the lack of paid sick time.
That raises the risk of a strike, which could start as soon as Dec. 9 under a deadline that was pushed back Tuesday. Makers of food, fuel, cars and chemicals would all feel the squeeze, as would their customers. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said the Biden administration’s goal is to make sure a strike doesn’t happen. Read the entire story.
