ECON Large rail union SMART-TD votes to reject labor deal as national strike moves closer

[China Connection]

Large rail union SMART-TD votes to reject labor deal as national strike moves closer​

PUBLISHED MON, NOV 21 20229:00 AM ESTUPDATED MON, NOV 21 202210:49 AM EST

Lori Ann LaRocco@LORIANNLAROCCO
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KEY POINTS

• Two of the largest rail unions diverged on labor deal votes Monday, with SMART-TD rejecting the deal and BLET voting for ratification.
• But BLET, the engineers’ union, said it will honor the picket line with other unions that voted against the deal.
• BRS, the signalmen’s union, can strike as soon as Dec. 5 but has the option to move its strike date to Dec. 9, to align with other unions including SMART-TD.
• UPS, the rails’ largest customer, told CNBC it can preemptively reroute packages to alternative lanes to minimize disruption.

In this article

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An aerial view of shipping containers and freight railway trains at the BNSF Los Angeles Intermodal Facility rail yard in Los Angeles, California, September 15, 2022.
Bing Guan | Reuters
SMART-TD, one of the largest railroad labor unions, voted down a tentative agreement with rail management, raising the likelihood of a strike in December. The BLET, the other largest union, voted to ratify the labor deal but said it will honor the picket line.
“It’s now back to the bargaining table for our operating craft members,” said Jeremy Ferguson, president of the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division. “This can all be settled through negotiations and without a strike. A settlement would be in the best interests of the workers, the railroads, shippers and the American people.”

“We stood shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters in SMART-TD and others in rail labor throughout this process and we will continue to stand in solidarity with them as we approach the finish line in this round of negotiations,” said Dennis Pierce, president of BLET, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
The BMWED, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, is scheduled to strike Dec. 5 with the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, or BRS. But BMWED announced it would extend its cooling-off period if one of the larger unions voted not to ratify the tentative labor deal. The BRS has not indicated whether it will extend its deadline for talks.
SMART-TD, BMWED and BRS represent more than 50% of all rail labor.
The rail industry has estimated the impact of a strike at $2 billion per day. A strike would affect all of the major rail operators, including Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern and CSX.
BMWED and BRS have another round of talks with railroad carriers Monday afternoon on federal sick pay.

During the tentative agreement review process, Pierce and SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson traveled the country together and held joint town halls to explain the deal to union members. Both unions credit the record turnout as a result of the presidents’ meetings with members.
The BLET represents approximately 24,000 professional locomotive engineers and trainmen throughout the United States. The BLET is the founding member of the Rail Conference, International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
The majority of SMART-Transportation Division’s 36,000 members are conductors — who split with the union’s other members on the vote — but the union also represents brakemen, yardmen, engine service employees and yardmasters, who are voting on a separate contract. To ratify the tentative agreement, each of those respective union groups must individually agree to the deal.
Association of American Railroads President and CEO Ian Jefferies said, “Today, the BLET joined the majority of our unions in approving the largest wage increases in nearly five decades and also paved a path toward greater scheduling predictability for its members.”
“Railroads stand ready to reach new deals based upon the PEB [presidential emergency board] framework with our remaining unions, but the window continues to narrow as deadlines rapidly approach,” Jeffries said. “Let’s be clear, if the remaining unions do not accept an agreement, Congress should be prepared to act and avoid a disastrous $2 billion a day hit to our economy.”
Under the Railway Labor Act, Congress has the authority to take action to avert a strike.
“The ball is now in the railroads’ court,” SMART-TD’s Ferguson said. “But the railroad executives who constantly complain about government interference and regularly bad-mouth regulators and Congress now want Congress to do the bargaining for them.”

Economic impact of national rail strike​

The American Chemistry Council, which represents companies including 3M, Dow, Dupont, BP, Exxon Mobil and Eli Lilly, said a rail strike would impact approximately $2.8 billion in chemicals cargo a week, and lead to a GDP decline and renewed inflation.
“AAR data show that there was a drop of 1,975 carloads of chemical shipments during the week of September 10 when the railroads stopped accepting shipments due to the threat of a strike,” Jeff Sloan, ACC’s senior director of transportation policy, recently told CNBC. “We would expect a similar dramatic reduction in chemical shipments if an embargo were to take place this month.”
Other industries, from agriculture to retail, have warned of the economic risks of a strike.
UPS, which is the rails’ largest customer, said in a statement to CNBC that it has the capabilities to help manage the situation if an agreement is not reached, which includes its flexible and integrated smart logistics network. “Our network planning tools also enable extensive coordination across UPS facilities around the world, including preemptively rerouting packages to alternative lanes to minimize unexpected disruption for our customers,” the statement said.
Based on the September strike preparation guidelines, if the BRS sticks with their strike date of Dec. 5, strike prep is expected to begin Nov. 28, the day the Senate arrives back from Thanksgiving break. The House is back on the Hill on Nov. 29.

WATCH NOW
VIDEO02:33
Why a nationwide railroad workers strike is a big risk this December



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MORE IN STATE OF FREIGHT​

If rail strike begins, ‘I think every union’ will honor picket line, says BLET president

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/21/smart-td-votes-down-labor-deal-as-rails-move-closer-to-national-strike.html

 

[mikeho78]

Pete's on it fer sure!

 

[Hfcomms]

This still isn’t on the radar of most people. Got preps?

 

[psychgirl]

This still isn’t on the radar of most people. Got preps?

No it’s not.
Nor do they care.
I sent a group text to my nephew /nieces with an article to read, to please think about what this would mean as far as supplies, and try to buy extra of their daily needs.


I didn’t even get so much as a laugh emoji in return. Nothing, no replies, nada zip.

I’d almost have been glad to get at least an eye roll reply! But nothing.

 

[CTFIREBATTCHIEF]

This is going to affect AMTRAK as well since most of their equipment runs on the freight railroads rails. I expect they will start cancelling trains right after the thanksgiving holiday to avoid stranding passengers. Not sure if the Northeast Corridor will be affected since AMTRAK owns those lines but not sure who controls the signaling on it

 

[Reader]

From friend who voted:
SMART-TD had a split vote. Conductors voted NO. Yardmasters voted YES

 

[psychgirl]

Article misleading.
SMART-TD had a split vote. Conductors voted NO. Yardmasters voted YES

So it’s a tie?

 

[BUBBAHOTEPT]

Let’s hope it all turns out to be nothing. But after the last few years….

 

[Samuel Adams]

Theatre


The RR situation will get well-worked out behind the scenes.


Slow demise business as usual for the rest of the country.


If you are into gore, suspense and ruined lives, maybe you can enjoy the show.

 

[night driver]

From friend who voted:
SMART-TD had a split vote. Conductors voted NO. Yardmasters voted YES

So it’s a tie?

HOW they went never REALLY mattered since ALL 12 Unions needed to ratify. And 3 had already denied.
And BOTH pieces of SMART-TD had to RATIFY, and one part denied. Tie isn't how these things go.

 

[night driver]

Samuel, I HONESTLY WISH that you were right, and that they would truly work this out in the smokey cloakrooms. I just don't see that given the issues AS PUBLICALLY STATED!

 

[Samuel Adams]

AS PUBLICALLY STATED!

There you go.



Now, what is it that “they” want to accomplish by so “publicly stating” ?


A light panic ?

Further complacency when it’s a nothingburger ?

 

[night driver]

Well, having worked strange hours and VERY strange shifts, their issues make a LOT of sense to me. I admit I WOULD vote to strike over these issues. AND I would look for a wildcat strike if we didn't get enough change from negotiations.

These are NOT meaningless differences. The scheduling issues ALONE create major safety issues across the board.

 

[Samuel Adams]

No argument, whatsoever, regarding RR worker’s conditions, rights and grievances.

But the STATE isn’t going to shoot itself in the foot by a total collapse where power goes off and infrastructure is permanently damaged.

That would be a loss of control.


It would be a perfect opportunity to invoke a super-reset….but, too many wild card variables…...I don’t think they have the guts….yet….and if they do, I will still be IMPRESSED if they try to pull that one via the “railroad strike”.


I just don’t see a need for extremes, on their part.

The country is walking straight into hell with zero resistance.


Zero.


Why rush a steadily progressing sure thing ?

 

[Raggedyman]

No it’s not.
Nor do they care.
I sent a group text to my nephew /nieces with an article to read, to please think about what this would mean as far as supplies, and try to buy extra of their daily needs.


I didn’t even get so much as a laugh emoji in return. Nothing, no replies, nada zip.

I’d almost have been glad to get at least an eye roll reply! But nothing.

Unfortunately I believe there are a great many people about to learn a very big lesson. One THINKS they’d have learned from the PLANDEDemik but obviously they did NOT.

To those among us who think this will “not happen” I beg to differ. This scenario is perfect for “them” - it allows the pResident yet another way to deflect blame for a crashing economy (Putin’s shine has worn off) and its completely believable.

this strike is going to completely change the complexion of what’s left of the economy. Make no mistake -it may very well be the opening bell to our (greatly) accelerated demise.

 

[psychgirl]

Unfortunately I believe there are a great many people about to learn a very big lesson. One THINKS they’d have learned from the PLANDEDemik but obviously they did NOT.

To those among us who think this will “not happen” I beg to differ. This scenario is perfect for “them” - it allows the pResident yet another way to deflect blame for a crashing economy (Putin’s shine has worn off) and its completely believable.

this strike is going to completely change the complexion of what’s left of the economy. Make no mistake -it may very well be the opening bell to our (greatly) accelerated demise.

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see

Either way, I did my part. It’s their choice to act or not. I tried.

 

[nuance4u]

My personal thoughts:

A strike will happen followed by government takeover. There will be a partial return to service for what they deem as necessary traffic. All loss of shipping will continue to be blamed on the strike.

 

[bracketquant]

Pete's on it fer sure!

How do you know he's top, and not bottom?

 

[Dobbin]

Christmas may be of the "home grown" type.

That might not be a bad thing...

Dobbin

 

[summerthyme]

Unfortunately I believe there are a great many people about to learn a very big lesson. One THINKS they’d have learned from the PLANDEDemik but obviously they did NOT.

To those among us who think this will “not happen” I beg to differ. This scenario is perfect for “them” - it allows the pResident yet another way to deflect blame for a crashing economy (Putin’s shine has worn off) and its completely believable.

this strike is going to completely change the complexion of what’s left of the economy. Make no mistake -it may very well be the opening bell to our (greatly) accelerated demise.

Yep.

I mean... what is "the government" going to do? Send armed FBI dweeb to every home of every worker, to "escort" them to their job? Probably have to stay with a good number of them throughout their shift, so they don't sabotage something. (And those hours are probably illegal to force anyone else to work!)

Fire them all?

How many retired workers are still capable of doing the job, AND are willing to be a scab?

You *can't* replace these workers overnight!

And like others, I don't blame them a bit! Hubby once worked for a big "cooperative" breeding cows. 25 days a month, minimum, and you worked until you got every cow bred... some nights he didn't get home until 9 pm ( after leaving the farm at 6 am, to suit the schedule of some big farm)

He was told he got 2 weeks off paid, starting the first year.

When he tried to take a couple days off, they informed him they counted the 5 days off a month as "vacation"!!

He quit.

When his manager called a few weeks later, begging him to come back, I gave him an earful. By the time I laid out how bad the work hours were, and how little he was making per hour... the MANAGER QUIT, 3 weeks later!

You can't work people like machines forever. I suspect many (most?) of the railroad workers are staying just for their pensions at this point. And as they get older, without even the ability to go to their doctor without being fired, I suspect many of them are realizing they probably won't live long enough to use their pension!

I think they are going to strike, and even 48 hours is going to create a giant fustercluck that will take weeks to sort out. We think getting our orders delivered is tough now!

I just ordered an additional 6 months of dog food from Chewy... it was about the only thing I thought might run short. I'd rather not feed them prime beef, pork and chicken if I can help it... although there's enough in the freezers to keep them - and us- going for 2 years.

I REALLY hope im wrong!

Summerthyme

 

[Raggedyman]

The country is walking straight into hell with zero resistance.

Zero.

Why rush a steadily progressing sure thing ?

Absolute Truth . . . That is - as far as the “walking straight into hell” part of the equation . . . Where I believe your thought process crumbles (at least in my view) is that these “DEMONS IN MEAT SUITS” are in fact worried that the sheep are beginning to look around - more are waking to the plight of the herd. “THEY” DO in fact have a certain level of fear of US.

Not only is this ”strike“ going to arrive at the most opportune time weather wise to prove devastating to that THREE MEAL A DAY HABBIT we all have - its perfectly timed to allow deflection of the collective finger pointing that’s right now focused on the puddin’ cup in chief

we need to remember something else here kids . . . As in ANY organization of size there re different factions with varying view points and objectives vying to arrive at a commonly desired endpoint. That “infighting” (for lack of a better word) is seen in the small missteps and setbacks these creatures suffer.

as for this strike - I can only speak from personal experience . . . WAAAAAY back in the early 70’s (‘73) I was a production worker at Packard Electric (later DELPHI) and as such a member of the IBEW. We manufactured wiring harness and electrical parts for almost all things automotive here and across the pond(s). That plant was HUGE. as an example of how much Packard produced, EVERY THREE DAYS we drew enough aluminum wire from billets to reach between the EART nd THE MOON. There are many people on this board familiar with its one time size and importance to the auto industry - GLOBALLY. I make mention of that as it demonstrates the IMPORTANCE as well as the SIZE of the organization.

IBEW struck ONCE . . . That strike lasted less than 12 hours because the dominoes began to fall literally GLOBALLY in the auto industry. And that DESPITE THE FACT that ”the company” had been working overtime and stockpiling for MONTHS in advance of the strike.

if you think the RAILROADS are not similarly important to the health and well being of this once great nation YOU ARE COMPLETELY DELUSIONAL.

 

[Raggedyman]

You *can't* replace these workers overnight!

ABSOLUTELY 'KREKKT . . . ​

people mention Reagan and the Air Traffic Controllers . . . tell you why that's not even in the same universe. air traffic controllers are "cheap" . . . meaning they are reasonably plentiful (for instance the armed forces spit them out with fair regularity) and they can be found easily and/or quickly replaced - or educated and replaced.

try doing that with a locomotive engineer. or a track maintenance crew. do you know how many HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of miles of track there are in this country? who's gonna watch all of that? do you know how absolutely sideways these people are capable of becoming when you start FVKing with them?

more personal experience - in '72 I was hauling steel for JV McNicholas out of Youngstown Ohio during the teamsters strike. pulled two loads of rim stock (for truck tire rims) 6 nights a week between US STEEL's 14 mill in McDonnald Ohio and our terminal in Columbus where I'd drop it in the yard and pull a trailer of pipe back home to Youngstown Sheet and Tube. I was a SCAB. I had to WORK because I was in undergrad at the time. I had tuition and rent to pay and groceries to buy. I had a goal in mind- and I was NOT going to be deterred from it. I'd just finished 4 years in the service that I considered a complete and utter waste of time. in that strike they (my brother teamsters) were in the habit of throwing concrete blocks off of bridges into the windshields of tractors. I can tell you I was SCARED TO DEATH.

once again - there are people here on this board who are familiar with that time and that history in the area. these people (RR) are NOT going to comply with sum BULLSHIT "THOU SHALL NOTS" issued from "on high" in ASSKLOWN CENTRAL

its that kind of history, that kind of individual personal experience (and that's just part of my own personal experience - a tiny and insignificant bit of it ) that shapes attitudes and fuels the ABSOLUTE RAGE and CONTEMPT that many of us here and across the country have for TPB and ASSKLOWN CENTRAL in particular.

I'M NOT ALONE in those kinds of experiences. we are finding our voice in this country. I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT. make no mistake this strike - should it materialize - will add fuel to the fire. IMHO they would like NOTHING MORE - its THE perfect reason to let loose the jackboots and - its THE perfect TIME to do so

 

[Reader]

So it’s a tie?

It’s misleading in that there was a split vote in SMART-TD. So, not all the rail workers voted against it.

 

[summerthyme]

It’s misleading in that there was a split vote in SMART-TD. So, not all the rail workers voted against it.

So? It only requires ONE union to vote "no".
Summerthyme

 

[Raggedyman]

So? It only requires ONE union to vote "no".
Summerthyme

AND they will honor each other - one strikes they will all walk

 

[Scrapman]

Didn't the administration and the union heads say all was good a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Donna_in_OK]

The country is walking straight into hell with zero resistance.

We're already there, most just haven't realized it yet. I fear they soon will.

Time is becoming scarce to wrap things up.

Edit: And just for cause... MAYO.... Should I give you my recipe for a kick a$$ mustard?

 

[Raggedyman]

My personal thoughts:

A strike will happen followed by government takeover. There will be a partial return to service for what they deem as necessary traffic. All loss of shipping will continue to be blamed on the strike.

with respect - I seriously doubt that "government takeover" will amount to much in terms of slowing down that "death of the economy" snowball rolling down hill towards us. I've enumerated the reasons for that opinion - which could be completely wrong - but I doubt it.

the timing is perfect and suits their needs - which is why it will be a LIHOP (let it happen on purpose). the inability of "THEY" to control certain parts of the equation has too may variables . . . they may try to "take over" I doubt they will be successful at it.

make no mistake - as @summerthyme has said - I too hope I am wrong. there are far too many people who do not have a reality on the power and strength (beyond the teachers union) of "the collective".

 

[mikeho78]

Bracketquant, Pete and I actually went to the same high school but he graduated a few years after me so I never knew him.
From my understanding, after he wrote some essay on socialism in high school, the grooming (political) began.

 

[Reader]

So? It only requires ONE union to vote "no".
Summerthyme

SMART-TD is one rail union. They did not vote unanimously as the article implies.

 

[Reader]

AND they will honor each other - one strikes they will all walk

Correct. But the vote to strike is different than the vote to accept the offer.

 

[Reader]

I hope there is no strike. That would devastate our nation.

 

[Kris Gandillon]

SMART-TD is one rail union. They did not vote unanimously as the article implies.

The article does NOT imply that it was unanimous.

It says, “The majority of SMART-Transportation Division’s 36,000 members are conductors — who split with the union’s other members on the vote — but the union also represents brakemen, yardmen, engine service employees and yardmasters, who are voting on a separate contract.”

It doesn’t have to be unanimous. We are not given the exact split but it could have been 51% NO to 49% YES and it would still be deemed a rejection.

 

[155 arty]

Yep.

I mean... what is "the government" going to do? Send armed FBI dweeb to every home of every worker, to "escort" them to their job? Probably have to stay with a good number of them throughout their shift, so they don't sabotage something. (And those hours are probably illegal to force anyone else to work!)

Fire them all?

How many retired workers are still capable of doing the job, AND are willing to be a scab?

You *can't* replace these workers overnight!

And like others, I don't blame them a bit! Hubby once worked for a big "cooperative" breeding cows. 25 days a month, minimum, and you worked until you got every cow bred... some nights he didn't get home until 9 pm ( after leaving the farm at 6 am, to suit the schedule of some big farm)

He was told he got 2 weeks off paid, starting the first year.

When he tried to take a couple days off, they informed him they counted the 5 days off a month as "vacation"!!

He quit.

When his manager called a few weeks later, begging him to come back, I gave him an earful. By the time I laid out how bad the work hours were, and how little he was making per hour... the MANAGER QUIT, 3 weeks later!

You can't work people like machines forever. I suspect many (most?) of the railroad workers are staying just for their pensions at this point. And as they get older, without even the ability to go to their doctor without being fired, I suspect many of them are realizing they probably won't live long enough to use their pension!

I think they are going to strike, and even 48 hours is going to create a giant fustercluck that will take weeks to sort out. We think getting our orders delivered is tough now!

I just ordered an additional 6 months of dog food from Chewy... it was about the only thing I thought might run short. I'd rather not feed them prime beef, pork and chicken if I can help it... although there's enough in the freezers to keep them - and us- going for 2 years.

I REALLY hope im wrong!

Summerthyme

Can't replace them overnight ??? Lol it would be a disaster to even consider it ...."hey buddy you want to drive a train " ? Sure says the guy off the street ...OK hop in take this load to Chicago....you got a map ???? Lmao

 

[summerthyme]

Can't replace them overnight ??? Lol it would be a disaster to even consider it ...."hey buddy you want to drive a train " ? Sure says the guy off the street ...OK hop in take this load to Chicago....you got a map ???? Lmao

Exactly.

People just don't think about the amount of specialized knowledge required for so many "simple" jobs. As just one example, milking cows! Heck, anyone can slap a milking machine on a tame cow, right?! Ha! Every time we left our small farm in someone else's care, we'd come home to some sort of expensive disaster. Even hiring ex- farmers, who presumably knew what they were doing, and even with multiple, detailed check lists. One of the worst, in terms of cost, was when an ex- dairy farmer friend took care of the cows for 3 days while we took a cow to the National show. He ended up running an entire wash cycle, including detergent and acid rinse, into the tank full of milk! A couple thousand bucks literally down the drain!

But you start trying to replace railroad workers quickly, and the damages won't be just in dollars.

Summerthyme

 

[psychgirl]

AND they will honor each other - one strikes they will all walk

Ok
So it’s going to happen then?
I’m a little confused
Just got home trying to catch up

 

[psychgirl]

I hope there is no strike. That would devastate our nation.

Yes it sure would!!

 

[Babs]

Theatre


The RR situation will get well-worked out behind the scenes.


Slow demise business as usual for the rest of the country.


If you are into gore, suspense and ruined lives, maybe you can enjoy the show.

I don't know. They ruined a lot of lives with the vaccine. I cannot rule out anything anymore.

 

[Profit of Doom]

No it’s not.
Nor do they care.
I sent a group text to my nephew /nieces with an article to read, to please think about what this would mean as far as supplies, and try to buy extra of their daily needs.


I didn’t even get so much as a laugh emoji in return. Nothing, no replies, nada zip.

I’d almost have been glad to get at least an eye roll reply! But nothing.

Now they know you are stocking up for them!

 

[Profit of Doom]

From friend who voted:
SMART-TD had a split vote. Conductors voted NO. Yardmasters voted YES

Is YES to strike, or to agree to contract?