SFIA Presses Congress to Intervene as Rail Strike Looms

Washington, D.C. (November 28, 2022): As a rail strike looms, SFIA is pressing Congress to intervene. The Rail unions negotiated a contract in September to avoid a potential strike. With four of the rail unions now rejecting the contract, a rail strike could begin as early as December 9, 2022, when the cooling-off period ends.

Rail unions will tip their hand with moves prior to a strike via notifications on hazardous shipments (4-days notice), steps to limit congestion and impact at rail yards (2-3 days notice), holding of containers at customer locations (2-days notice), and cancelation/consolidation of trains (1-day notice).

Congress can intervene under the Railway Labor Act to extend the cooling-off period or implement Presidential Emergency Board recommendations to keep rails running. SFIA joined over 400 Trade Associations on a letter to Congress urging them to intervene in the strike to avoid any labor disruptions to the fragile supply chains. SFIA will continue to press for Congressional intervention in the dispute to ensure reliable supply chains.

Click here to read the full letter.

For more information or for questions, please contact Bill Sells, SVP, Government Relations & Public Affairs, at [email protected].

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