THE RAILROAD LABOR DEAL IS STILL ON HOLD.

We noted the maintenance workers turning down the initial deal, counter-offering with additional paid leave, and the railroad bargaining committee treated that counter-offer as a rejection.

The National Carriers’ Conference Committee, which represents the railroads in collective bargaining, on Wednesday told the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters that the railroads would not accept its contract proposal.

“The latest BMWED request for additional benefits is similar to a proposal which was carefully considered and rejected by President Biden’s Presidential Emergency Board and comes weeks after the union entered into a tentative agreement that included the most generous wage package in almost 50 years of national rail negotiations,” the NCCC said in a statement.

I wonder if, with the Congressional elections so close, the conference committee isn't running out the clock.

[Union spokesman Clark] Ballew posited that if the two sides can't agree on a contract and Congress has to step in to avoid a strike, lawmakers may impose the proposed deal that excludes paid leave—a possibility that may be keeping the carriers from agreeing to BMWED's terms.

The rail carriers said Wednesday that while workers lack standard paid sick leave, "comprehensive paid sickness benefits" kick in for long-term illnesses after four days of absence, but unions have suggested the companies are capable of providing employees with both long-term disability benefits and comprehensive paid sick leave, as other workers throughout the economy have.

Are battle lines being drawn?

This week, the CEO of the National Association of Chemical Distributors warned in an opinion piece at Supply Chain Dive that a work stoppage could have "dire economic ramifications" for supply chains across sectors and lambasted rail companies for refusing to bend regarding the demand for paid sick leave.

"Without adequate benefits, there is no incentive for current workers to stay or for new workers to fill positions essential for safe and reliable freight rail service for customers," wrote Eric R. Byer. "A fragile and volatile supply chain requires a strong rail network. Now is not the time to deny reasonable benefits for a labor community that has been decimated by losses in recent years... It's time for the freight rail industry to right this wrong and get rail back on track."

Byer's op-ed was evidence of the "capitalist class splitting in real time,"tweeted Labor Notes reporter Jonah Furman.

"The rail monopolists have gone so far in destroying the industry for destructive profit-seeking that their customers, big chemical distributors, are siding with the workers in reforming the freight railroad labor system," he said.

I'm not sure there is a monolithic capitalist "class interest" here, although to the extent that the managerial class figures out downsizing is a false economy, that might be a good thing.

Should the strike commence on or after November 19, it will be the lame-duck Democrat Congress having to weigh the consequences of imposing a settlement.