Service Updates

Overview of the Possible Rail Strike Situation

On Friday, September 16th 2022, there is the possibility of a large scale strike of railroad workers. This is the result of disagreements between the unions and railroads after the Presidential Election Board (PEB) released their recommendations on August 16th.

Work stoppages, such as strikes, aren’t allowed for 30 days following the PEB’s proposal, but those 30 days are quickly running out, and on the 16th of September work stoppages are allowed again.

Currently, several of the smaller unions have agreed to tentative deals with the Class I railroads; however, the unions without agreements are the largest and represent a majority of the industries’ employees.

For more information about the PEB’s process and the recommendations, visit our blog about the topic.

Watch our Rail Strike Discussion

Our Director of Client Service, Gail Carlson, recently held a short discussion concerning the possible 9/16 strike.

Labor Union Agreements

One significant challenge that has presented itself in this situation is that each of the Class I railroads involved in talks with the 12 Labor Unions must individually come to an agreements. As a result, some of the railroads may be closer to an agreement with all 12 than others.

• BNSF – 9 of 12
• UP – Not Available
• KCS – 10 of 12
• CSXT – Not Available
• NS – 10 of 12
• CN – 8 0f 12
• CP – Not Part of the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC)

The NCCC is made up of the following Unions:

· The American Train Dispatchers Association

· Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen *

· Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees

· Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen

· International Association of Machinists

· International Brotherhood of Boilermakers

· Mechanical Division of International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART)*

· National Conference of Firemen & Oilers

· International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

· Transport Workers

· Transportation Communications Union (including Brotherhood Railway Carmen)

· Transportation Division of SMART (including Railroad Yardmasters of America)

* Of these unions the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the Mechanical Division of International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) make up half of all Rail workers

Railroad Impact Summaries

BNSF

Last updated September 12th

• BNSF has reached tentative agreements with 9 of the 12 unions.
• Effective Wednesday, 9/14, BNSF will not allow Temperature Controlled Intermodal (TCI) units to in-gate at any of it’s intermodal facilities.
• BNSF will begin to take steps to manage and secure hazardous and security-sensitive materials Monday, 9/12.
• The railroad is still working with the remaining labor organizations to try and reach an agreement before 9/16.

For more information, click here to read BNSF’s full announcement.

CN

Last updated September 12th

• Tentative agreements between CN and 8 of the 12 unions have been made.
•  The other 4 agreements must be made before the cooling off period ends Friday, 9/16.
• Embargo traffic originated at or destined to points in the U.S. with permits.
• Embargo all Rail Security-Sensitive Materials or RSSM commodities (such as PIH/TIH) between Canada and the U.S., and implement a permit system.
• Canada to Canada shipments of all commodities will move per normal.

NS

Last updated September 12th

• NS has tentatively reached agreements with 10 of the 12 unions. A commitment not to strike was requested from the last 2 unions, but they declined.
• NS will ensure that hazardous and other security-sensitive freight is properly secured.
• NS will temporarily halt certain types of shipments beginning 9/12 and embargo special hazmat commodifies and all rail security-sensitive materials.
• To safely ramp down the network, some customers will see a preliminary interruption of service before 9/16.

For more information, click here to read NS’ full announcement.

CP

Last updated September 9th

• The CP is not a party to the NCCC and not involved in the continuing labor negotiations.

CSX

Last updated September 9th

• CSX will begin to take steps to manage and secure hazardous and security-sensitive materials Monday, 9/12. This includes an embargo on all TIH/PIH shipments.
• The railroad is still working with the remaining labor organizations to try and reach an agreement before 9/16.

For more information, click here to read the CSX’s full announcement.

KCS

Last updated September 9th

• KCS does not intend to lockout unionized employees.
• KCS does not intend to embargo shipments, although circumstances could change.

For more information, click here to read the KCS’ full announcement.

UP

Last updated September 9th

• UP will begin to secure hazardous and other security-sensitive materials.
• UP will embargo new shipments of hazardous commodities.

For more information, click here to read the UP’s full announcement.