ARLINGTON, Va. — Agricultural shippers have urged Congress to prevent a national railroad strike or lockout, which they said would have “devastating consequences to our national and global food security.”
A railroad network shutdown would exacerbate agricultural shipping challenges, which include rail congestion on the big four U.S. systems, record low water levels that have brought Mississippi River barge traffic to a halt, and a shortage of trucks, the National Feed and Grain Association and 192 other members of the Agricultural Transportation Working Group told Congress this week.
Six of the 12 unions representing railroad workers have ratified their contracts with the U.S. Class I railroads, but two have rejected their tentative agreements, and four unions are currently voting on their contracts. A strike by any of the unions would lead to a nationwide freight shutdown, which also would affect most Amtrak service and many commuter rail operations.
“Congressional action will be necessary if the parties fail to reach agreement,” the food and agriculture groups wrote in a Nov. 3 letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. “Resolution of this dispute prior to Nov. 19 is necessary to ensure rail service continues uninterrupted. Adding urgency to this matter, critical inputs and agricultural products such as ammonia shipments could be embargoed starting on Nov. 14.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which represents locomotive machinists, track equipment mechanics, and facility maintenance personnel, will announce its balloting results on Saturday. The union rank and file rejected an initial tentative agreement on Sept. 14. Union leaders reached a second tentative agreement with the railroads on Sept. 27.
The NGFA consists of grain, feed, processing, exporting and other grain-related companies that operate more than 8,000 facilities handling U.S. grains and oilseeds.
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