On November 22nd, the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) issued the following statement urging Congressional action to avoid a potential rail strike:
“The nation’s rail system plays a important role in the supply chain, including the movement of perishable commodities through the cold chain. Given ongoing supply chain disruptions and the persistent shortage of truck drivers, a potential rail strike would have significant negative impacts on the ability to efficiently move food and other essential products through the supply chain. GCCA urges Congress and the Administration to proactively advance legislation to avoid any work stoppages and maintain rail operations at this critical time.”
The statement comes after one of the nation’s largest rail unions voted to reject the tentative agreement reached in September. With all of the unions now having voted, four have rejected the contract, raising significant concerns that a strike could occur. The National Railway Labor Conference and the American Association of Railroads have issued responses to the votes. The cooling off period, where operations maintain status quo, is set to expire at midnight on December 8, setting up a potential strike as early as December 9. GCCA will continue to work with Congress, the Administration and industry partners to push for a resolution to avoid a strike.
