U.S. railroads, unions reach tentative pact on eve of deadline
BNN Bloomberg
US railroads and unions representing more than 100,000 workers reached a tentative deal, the government said, a breakthrough that looks to avert a labor disruption that risked adding supply-chain strains to the world’s largest economy.
After 20 straight hours of talks, the companies and union negotiators reached a tentative agreement balancing the needs of workers, businesses and the economy, according to a Labor Department statement early Thursday.
It was a “hard-fought, mutually beneficial deal,” the emailed statement said. “Our rail system is integral to our supply chain, and a disruption would have had catastrophic impacts on industries, travelers and families across the country.”
The deal extends the so-called cooling off period, during which the two sides have been negotiating, until union members can ratify it, an administration official said.
