Why is the US railroad going on strike?

Railroads have slashed labor and other costs to bolster profits in recent years, and have been fiercely opposed to adding paid sick time that would require them to hire more staff.



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Here are some of the expected impacts of a rail strike:
  • $2 BILLION A DAY. Railroads haul about 40 percent of the nation's freight each year. ...
  • CHEMICALS RUN DRY. ...
  • PASSENGER PROBLEMS. ...
  • FOOD FEARS. ...
  • HUNGRY HERDS. ...
  • RETAIL RISKS. ...
  • AUTOMOBILE ANGST.


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Why are rail workers striking? Unions say they want a pay offer reflecting the rising cost of living. But the rail industry is under pressure to save money, after the pandemic left a hole in its finances. The industry says changes to ways of working need to be agreed in order for pay to go up.

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Only the nation's freight rail lines face a pending strike, but commuters would likely be affected, too. Many commuter trains travel on tracks maintained and operated by the freight railroads and passenger railroads expect they'll have to shut down their operations once the freight strike starts.

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Railroad workers and unions are ramping up pressure on the US Congress and Joe Biden to address poor working conditions in the wake of the recent move to block a strike when Congress voted to impose a contract agreement.

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A potential strike could lead to $2 billion a day in lost economic output, according to the Association of American Railroads, which lobbies on behalf of rail companies. Freight railroads are responsible for carrying 40% of the nation's long-haul freight and a work stoppage could jeopardize these shipments.

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The 2022 United States railroad labor dispute was a labor dispute 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.

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What is the rail strike about? Rail union leaders and carriers agreed to a tentative deal in September that included pay raises for members. But many union workers voted against the deal, in part because they have been pushing for paid sick days, which they currently do not receive.

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Work Schedules Because trains operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, railroad workers' schedules may vary to include nights, weekends, and holidays. Most work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.

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Railroad Industry Introduces New Technology The industry has also been using Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR), which is a new ability to direct rail traffic. These advancements are allowing the railroad industry to cut down on jobs to stay profitable since it is doing the work that those workers usually do.

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Is Amtrak striking? No. “The negotiations do not involve Amtrak or the Amtrak workforce,” Amtrak said in a statement earlier this week.

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