The third-largest railroad union in the US has revived the possibility of a strike in the vital railroad sector, rejecting a tentative deal with the Class I freight railroads.
The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division (BMWED) announced in a statement on Monday that its members rejected the tentative agreement with its employers since they are, among other issues, still upset about the poor working conditions and compensation details.
BMWED President Tony D. Cardwell said in the statement that railroaders do not feel valued and resent the fact that management holds no regard for their quality of life, given their stubborn reluctance to provide them with a higher quantity of paid time off, especially for sickness.
Cardwell stressed that railroaders hold their employer in low regard since they are discouraged and upset with working conditions and compensation, noting he believes that railroad management understands that sentiment as well.
He pointed out that a lot of work is needed to establish goodwill and improve the morale that the railroads’ executives and Wall Street hedge fund managers have broken, as the result of their vote indicates, underscoring that the ongoing issues have been created by the mismanagement and greed from the Class I freight railroads’ companies so union members are concerned with the direction it’s moving toward.
The union has agreed to keep working for now so there is no immediate risk of a strike.
Last month, multiple railroad unions- including Norfolk Southern, CSX, and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) – reached an agreement with their companies to avoid a national strike that would have severely impacted the economy.
Noting that railroad workers are “part of the backbone” of the United States, President Biden said at the time – announcing the tentative agreement – that they deserve better compensation and health care costs, among other things.
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