Decatur, Ill (WAND) – The threat of a nationwide railroad strike looms as unions have yet to fully ratify a tentative agreement. Eight of twelve unions voted for ratification but the nations largest rail union rejected the deal this week. If any union strikes all will likely follow putting 100,000 workers on the picket line.
The key issues have been wages and working conditions. A tentative agreement reached in August would give rail workers a 24% increase over three years which works out to about 8% a year. Workers say inflation would eat up the increases.
A strike could start as early as December 9th further crippling the nations supply chain and hammering the prices farmers can obtain for their crops. Railroads move tons of grain each fall.
Canadian National Train in Decatur, Illinois
Gregory DeYong, associate professor of operations management at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, tells WAND News there could be a significant impact on the nations supply chain especially for agricultural products which have already been running into transportation problems to Gulf export terminals due to low water levels on the Mississippi River which is impacting barge traffic.
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