Monitoring Rail

Bottomline: Seven rail unions accept labor contract.  Currently, seven of the twelve rail labor unions have ratified labor contracts with the Class 1 carriers. However, this week the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers joined the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees and the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalman in declining the agreement. The Class 1 carriers and the unions have agreed to a cooling-off period that lasts until December 4^th, after which a strike or lockout is possible.