IT'S ON.

The maintenance, signal, and shop craft brotherhoods have rejected the proposed new railroad contract, and now the conductors have said no.

By the slimmest of margins, conductors represented by the SMART-TD union rejected the deal, fueling the prospects of a nationwide strike that could begin as soon as Dec. 9. Some 50.87% of voting members rejected the agreement.

Yet the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen ratified their agreement, as did yardmasters represented by SMART-TD. Some 53.5% of engineers backed the deal, along with 62.4% of yardmasters.

Turnout was a record for both unions, reflecting the contentious relationship between railroads and the rank and file.

Sorry, I can't help you with that acronym.

Under the provisions governing railroad labor relations, there is a cooling-off period through December 8, although if the continuing negotiations appear to be at an impasse, railroads can impose embargoes on freight as early as next week Monday, November 28.