Retailers: Congress Must Act to Avoid Rail Strike

As our nation’s rail unions continue to inch closer to a strike, today the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) is calling on Congress to act swiftly to codify the tentative agreement the negotiating parties reached earlier this fall. RILA President Brian Dodge issued the following statement:

“We fully support statements made by President Biden yesterday—with the strike deadline approaching and no deal within sight, Congress needs to swiftly pass legislation codifying the Tentative Agreements reached by unions and railroads in September.


“Leading retailers rely on our rail infrastructure to move millions of goods to consumers throughout the country. While retailers already have inventories in place for the holiday season, the impact of a rail stoppage would instantly ripple throughout the nation’s supply chains. Consumers and the national economy will ultimately feel the pain, at a time when inflationary pressures are already running at an all-time high.  

“After almost three years, negotiations have not resolved this dispute.  Unlike most of the supply chain challenges retailers have faced over the last several years, the looming specter of a rail shutdown—and the related economic impacts—are entirely foreseeable and preventable.

“Congress should follow the president’s lead and act swiftly to protect the economy.”

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Tags
  • Supply Chain
  • Public Policy
  • Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Workforce

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