Thoughts on the possible rail strike-it may not be over

[Jchrisls]

Briefly read this

Looming railroad strike could cripple US economy, transportation

A potential strike could begin ahead of the busy holiday season.

abcnews.go.com

Saw somewhere up to 40% of goods shipped by rail would be affected with over 120k miles of track being idled.

For scale, to overcome the shortage it would take nearly 500k semi trucks put on the road and operating to equal the same amount of freight loss. Staggering.

 

[Catskillkid]

We had a conversation about it at work today. It's not my department but we get water treatment chemicals predominantly sent by rail. If the rail strike happens some really big manure could potentially hit the proverbially fan. Other water treatment utilities could face the same issue.

 

[ManualF150]

I'm sitting here waiting for the collapse.

It will happen, just when is the question.

I was at a local supermarket yesterday, and there is starting to get more and more holes on the shelves. Even products that have disappeared not only from that store, but from others around. A lot of shelf fronting going on too.

Maybe this will be the straw that breaks the camel's back?

 

[Jchrisls]

I'm sitting here waiting for the collapse.

It will happen, just when is the question.

I was at a local supermarket yesterday, and there is starting to get more and more holes on the shelves. Even products that have disappeared not only from that store, but from others around. A lot of shelf fronting going on too.

Maybe this will be the straw that breaks the camel's back?

I'm unsure that it leads to that end, but certain that an 8.3% rate of inflation would be welcome if the strike stretched out for awhile. Talks already in place for the fed to raise rates again to nearly 5 points. With the holiday shopping season soon approaching and a lack of goods available to sell due to rail shipment shortages, this is going to get MUCH worse.

 

[Saltwater60]

I actually want this. Yes it will suck and I will feel some pain but I’m ready. Biden and the democrats empowered the people that will be leading to this. Maybe I can strike at my job to get a stupid ridiculous raise of 50%.

 

[Catskillkid]

I actually want this. Yes it will suck and I will feel some pain but I’m ready. Biden and the democrats empowered the people that will be leading to this. Maybe I can strike at my job to get a stupid ridiculous raise of 50%.

My understanding is that the railroad folks aren't asking for a raise but asking for better scheduling. At least my (admittedly limited) understanding of this issue many railroaders are on call 24/7 for weeks on end and they want the companies to hire more staff to not have that happen. I don't consider that a particularly bad ask.

 

[Jchrisls]

I actually want this. Yes it will suck and I will feel some pain but I’m ready. Biden and the democrats empowered the people that will be leading to this. Maybe I can strike at my job to get a stupid ridiculous raise of 50%.

Actually, moreover, thus would be great if it stretched until the midterms, if the Republicans could pull thier heads out of thier asses for more than a breath of fresh air. Imagine, using the supply chain and Mayor Pete on maternity leave as topics for use?

 

[Jchrisls]

My understanding is that the railroad folks aren't asking for a raise but asking for better scheduling. At least my (admittedly limited) understanding of this issue many railroaders are on call 24/7 for weeks on end and they want the companies to hire more staff to not have that happen. I don't consider that a particularly bad ask.

Agreed. Additionally using new hires and firing them the day before they enter the union ( this is an abused common practice on the railroad) should be addressed. Had this happen to a friend of mine.

 

[Jchrisls]

Nope, says the Taylor Law.

?

 

[Jchrisls]

Taylor Law - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Understood, but this is I believe national

 

[ManualF150]

NY State workers can’t strike ,if they do then are fined days of wages and union leaders jailed.

So they will jail the ones that need to operate the railroad? Maybe that should happen. See how far we can go.

Reminds me of all the BS with the CCIA. Go ahead, lock up law abiding citizens, go ahead. See where that goes too.

 

[Modean]

My understanding is that the railroad folks aren't asking for a raise but asking for better scheduling. At least my (admittedly limited) understanding of this issue many railroaders are on call 24/7 for weeks on end and they want the companies to hire more staff to not have that happen. I don't consider that a particularly bad ask.

Assuming they can actually hire the people, sure. Thats not a given right now.

 

[TEOTWAWKI inc.]

Railroad unions are not as simple as Norfolk Southern goes on strike, but Union Pacific doesn't. The IAM (machinists) rejected a deal, but several others agreed. I think it is more of an 'all or nothing' situation, which should be interesting because that means 12 unions are negotiating amongst themselves, at the same time as against the carriers.

I don't think the strike will happen Friday, even though I hope it does. Their contracts have been up since 2020, and Congress can intervene. Averting/delaying the strike gives the Democrats a boost in the mid-terms. All the (D) candidates I see have a big, bold 'organized labor' bullet point they use regularly. If Republicans gain a majority in November, I could see negotiations stall until they can be blamed for a late winter home heating oil shortage or something. The unions aren't going to screw up the democrats chances in Nov. This is all a show.

 

[Jchrisls]

Railroad unions are not as simple as Norfolk Southern goes on strike, but Union Pacific doesn't. The IAM (machinists) rejected a deal, but several others agreed. I think it is more of an 'all or nothing' situation, which should be interesting because that means 12 unions are negotiating amongst themselves, at the same time as against the carriers.

I don't think the strike will happen Friday, even though I hope it does. Their contracts have been up since 2020, and Congress can intervene. Averting/delaying the strike gives the Democrats a boost in the mid-terms. All the (D) candidates I see have a big, bold 'organized labor' bullet point they use regularly. If Republicans gain a majority in November, I could see negotiations stall until they can be blamed for a late winter home heating oil shortage or something. The unions aren't going to screw up the democrats chances in Nov. This is all a show.

What's also interesting is that if the IAM has insisted they wil strike that another union shouldn't cross thier picket line. I'm a former member of that union, and they need this badly for thier pension fund.

 

[Saltwater60]

My understanding is that the railroad folks aren't asking for a raise but asking for better scheduling. At least my (admittedly limited) understanding of this issue many railroaders are on call 24/7 for weeks on end and they want the companies to hire more staff to not have that happen. I don't consider that a particularly bad ask.

My friend who is a pilot said the same thing. They want to strike because of scheduling. What’s changed? Certainly the scheduling hasn’t changed much in recent history. Yes they are short pilots but the airlines are cutting service to make up for it. You know the schedule when you take the job. Don’t like it don’t take the job. They get paid a hell of a lot of money for a relatively simple job. If the railroads can’t find workers then something should change. If the workers demand too much well then they will all be replaced with automation soon enough. They will bitch then too. I’m not saying they shouldn’t be treated fairly but you have to be careful what you ask for.
This very thing happened at my last job. Contract was up, workers asked for unreasonable health care cost(full coverage, full family for $30/week) and the company said no. The workers said yes, that’s what we want and went on strike. The company couldn’t operate without the worker(go figure) and they settled the contract for slightly above asking, I think $1 increases every year for 4 years. The company then install a robotic unit that eliminates 15-20 jobs. At that moment it became cheaper over 2.5 years to buy the robot and the workers were gone.

 

[Jchrisls]

My friend who is a pilot said the same thing. They want to strike because of scheduling. What’s changed? Certainly the scheduling hasn’t changed much in recent history. You know the schedule when you take the job. Don’t like it don’t take the job. They get paid a hell of a lot of money for a relatively simple job.

Pilots make a lot, engineers don't last I checked.

 

[Saltwater60]

Pilots make a lot, engineers don't last I checked.

Median salary is around $100,000. I’d say that’s pretty good for no college degree. That’s more than most with a masters degree.

Railroad Engineer Salary | Salary.com

The average Railroad Engineer salary in the United States is $85,542 as of April 01, 2025, but the salary range typically falls between $77,471 and $94,739.

www.salary.com

 

[Stuckinny]

Median salary is around $100,000. I’d say that’s pretty good for no college degree. That’s more than most with a masters degree.

Railroad Engineer Salary | Salary.com

The average Railroad Engineer salary in the United States is $85,542 as of April 01, 2025, but the salary range typically falls between $77,471 and $94,739.

www.salary.com

Now add in the value if benefits and pension and let's see what that number is. Amazing how union jobs never include those line items. My company tells me my total cost to them, salary, benefits, company 401k contributions, medical, everything. That is how you measure an employees compensation, and comparing across industries without this is meaningless. For example, in NY any teacher that has been teaching for a long time is a potential millionaire in retirement funds, but because it is a pension and not theirs, it gets swept under the rug.

 

[Jchrisls]

All matters not, as it seems a deal has been struck

 

[1075tech]

Now add in the value if benefits and pension and let's see what that number is. Amazing how union jobs never include those line items. My company tells me my total cost to them, salary, benefits, company 401k contributions, medical, everything. That is how you measure an employees compensation, and comparing across industries without this is meaningless. For example, in NY any teacher that has been teaching for a long time is a potential millionaire in retirement funds, but because it is a pension and not theirs, it gets swept under the rug.

Yep. When I was in a union, pay was ~$27/hr in the paycheck. Total package including all benefits and employer contributions brought that to ~$50/hr.

Now, the company I work for puts out some corporate propaganda they call Total Rewards. It's supposed to tell you how much you're making with their contributions. While the end number is much higher, I bring home significantly less than I did working union.

Now, out of my sub-standard salary, ~30% for taxes, ~20% for health insurance, ~15% for 401k. All of these things were paid for through the union/employer.

We have a couple of union locations that we've picked up through acquisitions. Upper mgmt doesn't want to hire anyone to work there. Out of the 18 managers and 25 locations that I cover, guess who has the lower injury rate, lower preventable motor vehicle accident rate, and overall lower claims rate?

 

[Saltwater60]

All matters not, as it seems a deal has been struck

Well we knew that would happen. Could you imagine being on either side and failing to make a deal? Could you imagine the shit you would get on the picket line? Go back to work you asshole you’re starving my kids. I don’t have food on my table because you want more money and you already make twice what I do? Wow that’s a tough one.

 

[Saltwater60]

Yep. When I was in a union, pay was ~$27/hr in the paycheck. Total package including all benefits and employer contributions brought that to ~$50/hr.

Now, the company I work for puts out some corporate propaganda they call Total Rewards. It's supposed to tell you how much you're making with their contributions. While the end number is much higher, I bring home significantly less than I did working union.

Now, out of my sub-standard salary, ~30% for taxes, ~20% for health insurance, ~15% for 401k. All of these things were paid for through the union/employer.

We have a couple of union locations that we've picked up through acquisitions. Upper mgmt doesn't want to hire anyone to work there. Out of the 18 managers and 25 locations that I cover, guess who has the lower injury rate, lower preventable motor vehicle accident rate, and overall lower claims rate?

Not the union workers

 

[Jezman]

Corperate America is going after everyone's pay. We are least 15 years behind in wages.

 

[Saltwater60]

Corperate America is going after everyone's pay. We are least 15 years behind in wages.

Are we? We’re getting spanked by all these other emerging countries. If we increase wages more there will be next to no jobs left in the USA.
I just spoke to a migrant worker and he is paid $16/hour and all expenses paid here in the USA. He would make about $10 USA for the same job in Mexico for 8 hours of work and have to pay his expenses. This is not $10/hour, but $10 per day. Of course things are cheaper in Mexico. Keep in mind all the rules and regulations add costs to businesses as well. We’re killing our own country.

 

[FRB]

Corperate America is going after everyone's pay. We are least 15 years behind in wages.

yeah.... okay - sure.

 

[Jmac00]

as I understand it, Biden caved and gave the RR workers everything they wanted, because the alternative for biden would be economic collapse just before the midterms

WELL PLAYED RR UNION, WELL PLAYED

 

[TEOTWAWKI inc.]

The double standards make my head hurt.

Want to talk about an extreme threat to democracy? 100,000 people, or .03% of the U.S. population, just held 30% of the country's entire freight transportation infrastructure hostage, selfishly jeopardizing countless lives, and willfully trying to destroy the entire U.S. economy, all over a couple dollars and an extra day off of work each year.

The president and his administration were complicit in this attempted domestic terrorist attack, and the Union Army of Laborers should join them in prison for treason against the United States. The Build Back Better Democrats infiltrating the fringe left will stop at nothing to end life as we know it. Slavery and genocide now stand in the way of freedom and liberty.

 

[Jezman]

yeah.... okay - sure.

You like lower wages for your time? I don't!

 

[Saltwater60]

Here are some details on the contract, not much but details the money part. 24% raise from 2020-2024 and $1,000 bonus each and every year. Not sure about you guys but I’m sure now one on here get 5% raises every year, year over year. Their back pay check will be $11,000.
I get lousy 2%’ers. Actually my contract is up in April or may and my last one was three years or so late. My back paycheck was only a couple thousand.

Railroad strike averted after marathon talks reach tentative deal | CNN Business

Unions and management reached a tentative deal early Thursday, averting a freight railroad strike that had threatened to cripple US supply chains and push prices higher for many goods.

amp.cnn.com

 

[Jezman]

Here are some details on the contract, not much but details the money part. 24% raise from 2020-2024 and $1,000 bonus each and every year. Not sure about you guys but I’m sure now one on here get 5% raises every year, year over year. Their back pay check will be $11,000.
I get lousy 2%’ers. Actually my contract is up in April or may and my last one was three years or so late. My back paycheck was only a couple thousand.

Railroad strike averted after marathon talks reach tentative deal | CNN Business

Unions and management reached a tentative deal early Thursday, averting a freight railroad strike that had threatened to cripple US supply chains and push prices higher for many goods.

amp.cnn.com

Maybe you need to go work for the RR. They all are hiring.