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By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President Today, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen tallied the ballots cast in its first nationwide strike vote over national contract negotiations since 2011. In a showing of solidarity and unity, 99.5% of the participating members voted to authorize a strike should such action become legal in the coming…

(Source: The Real News Network, July 7, 2022) System shocks, such as the war in Ukraine and a raging pandemic, have provided a ready-made culprit for delays and disruptions all along the U.S. supply chain. Missing from the equation, though, are the rail carriers themselves: the billionaires who own them and the overpaid CEOs who…

(Source: Progressive Railroading, July 7, 2022) A growing list of businesses are letting President Joe Biden know they’re worried about the current stalemate in major freight railroads’ labor negotiations and the impact a potential rail strike would have on the economy. The National Retail Federation is the latest association to urge Biden to establish a Presidential Emergency…

Source: Progressive Railroading, July 6, 2022) A coalition of rail shippers is calling on President Joe Biden to establish a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) to help the nation’s largest railroads and rail labor groups reach a contract settlement. Full story: Progressive Railroading

(Source: Railway Age, July 5, 2022) NEW YORK — We’re now in the second half of 2022, when the four major U.S. Class I’s have committed to turning their operations around, but the current state of play is not encouraging. Full story: Railway Age