The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) has voted to reject a tentative agreement with the nation's railroads, with a strike authorized for later in the month.
As the "cooling off" period comes to an end, IAM's roughly 4,900 members decided to vote no deal on the proposals. They also voted to strike, though that has been delayed until September 29 as negotiations continue between many other labor unions and the railroads.
"IAM freight rail members are skilled professionals who have worked in difficult conditions through a pandemic to make sure essential products get to their destinations," the union said in a statement.
"We look forward to continuing that vital work with a fair contract that ensures our members and their families are treated with the respect they deserve for keeping America's goods and resources moving through the pandemic."
IAM is one of nine unions that reached tentative agreements with the National Carriers' Conference Committee, which represents all Class I freight railroads and many small United States railroads.
Contract negotiations between railroads and labor unions representing some 115,000 workers began back in 2020 during the covid plandemic. Since that time, very little progress has been made, which prompted the Biden regime to intervene.
Back in August, the board that was convened recommended increasing pay by 24 percent over five years, as well as immediately hiking worker pay by 14 percent. It also recommended issuing five annual lump sum $1,000 payments, among other proposals.
It was initially believed that all nine unions came to tentative agreements. However, IAM just pulled out, and two other unions, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers – Transportation Division, have reportedly not come to any agreements.
The latter union issued a statement explaining that it is "abundantly clear from our negotiations over the past few days that the railroads show no intentions of reaching an agreement with our Unions."
White House begs rail workers to "stay at the table" and make this work
The official end of the "cooling off" period is Friday, September 16. As soon as Monday – though it is now looking like workers will walk off the job more towards the end of September – rail movement could slow or even stop in some areas.
Even though some of the unions have agreed to accept the new terms, others have not. And unless all workers remain at the railroads, there are sure to be delays and other problems that further disrupt supply chains.
Already even before the walk-off, some railroads have begun scaling back operations and even implementing embargoes on hazardous materials so they do not get left in certain places for too long.
Labor Secretary Marty Walsh was tasked by Joe Biden to lead the efforts to carve out a deal that workers for everyone. He hosted a meeting in Washington this week to discuss the matter further.
"All parties need to stay at the table, bargain in good faith to resolve outstanding issues, and come to an agreement," added White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a statement to reporters during a flight to Michigan.
"A shutdown of our freight rail system is an unacceptable outcome for our economy and the American people, and all parties must work to avoid just that."
In the comment section, someone wrote:
"The National Railway Labor Union (blue collar workers) facing off against the Elite Globalists who control BlackRock through Vanguard, who want the USA to grind to a halt and collapse into ruin. This is not a matter of IF the railroad supply chain will be shut down, but WHEN."
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