Think we have supply chain issues now?

[kentuckysouthernrwy]

Article from this mornings Railway Age email feed

www.railwayage.com/regulatory/nmb-starts-clock-toward-rail-shutdown/?utm_source=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=33082

[edwardsutorik]

Interesting, for sure. Sounds like OP is suggesting the possibility of a big shutdown.

When was the last time a nationwide walk-off succeeded? I honestly can't recall. And if it doesn't succeed, what's the point?



Ed

[Baikal]

Jun 15, 2022 20:33:06 GMT -8 edwardsutorik said:

Interesting, for sure. Sounds like OP is suggesting the possibility of a big shutdown.

When was the last time a nationwide walk-off succeeded? I honestly can't recall. And if it doesn't succeed, what's the point?

Ed

Money's the point.

All hands are dirty en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Fauth

[kentuckysouthernrwy]

Political gamesmanship, smoke and mirrors to distract during election year.

OP

[fr8kar]

Jun 16, 2022 10:23:41 GMT -8 kentuckysouthernrwy said:

Political gamesmanship, smoke and mirrors to distract during election year.

OP

Certainly not on the part of labor. We haven't had a contract in years, which means we continue to work at the old rates of pay until this is resolved. Meanwhile, coronavirus happened along with the inflation that's on everyone's mind since our last raise. The carriers want to keep our pay the same and get rid of conductors while increasing our insurance costs. No deal.

[valenciajim]

Labor difficulties are always amplified during times of inflation as workers try to keep pace. Workers want more pay because the dollars they are paid are worth less. Employers want to keep costs in check because they cannot pass all cost increases on to consumers.

I don't see how this distracts in an election year. Labor trying to keep pace with inflation will be a major election issue. This strike, if it happens, will be part of a larger issue.

[fr8kar]

Jun 17, 2022 20:36:16 GMT -8 valenciajim said:

Labor difficulties are always amplified during times of inflation as workers try to keep pace. Workers want more pay because the dollars they are paid are worth less. Employers want to keep costs in check because they cannot pass all cost increases on to consumers.

I don't see how this distracts in an election year. Labor trying to keep pace with inflation will be a major election issue. This strike, if it happens, will be part of a larger issue.

The carriers have set themselves up by proclaiming "record profits" quarter after quarter, so they will have a hard time convincing anyone they don't have any room to negotiate. Not only that, the expiration of our contract was not a surprise to anyone, nor is the precedent of having to account for retroactive pay when an expired contract is superseded by a new contract.

The real hangup is the carriers' intention to negotiate crew consist with this agreement, which to the outside observer means they want only one person in the cab. That's a deal-breaker for just about all of us operating employees.

[stevef45]

Just saw an article that said there is a backlog of over 2,700 railcars in north Dakota alone. Imago e if this were to happen.

[valenciajim]

Jun 18, 2022 3:25:55 GMT -8 fr8kar said:

Jun 17, 2022 20:36:16 GMT -8 valenciajim said:

Labor difficulties are always amplified during times of inflation as workers try to keep pace. Workers want more pay because the dollars they are paid are worth less. Employers want to keep costs in check because they cannot pass all cost increases on to consumers.

I don't see how this distracts in an election year. Labor trying to keep pace with inflation will be a major election issue. This strike, if it happens, will be part of a larger issue.

The carriers have set themselves up by proclaiming "record profits" quarter after quarter, so they will have a hard time convincing anyone they don't have any room to negotiate. Not only that, the expiration of our contract was not a surprise to anyone, nor is the precedent of having to account for retroactive pay when an expired contract is superseded by a new contract.

The real hangup is the carriers' intention to negotiate crew consist with this agreement, which to the outside observer means they want only one person in the cab. That's a deal-breaker for just about all of us operating employees.

Unfortunately, the railroads are not the only ones who have reported record profits while leaving wages behind. It is true in many industries.