The threat of a rail worker strike has local links in the supply chain concerned about major interruptions.
The $2-billion a day interruption to the U.S. economy from a rail strike means more than Washington farmers’ goods not moving or even empty store shelves. For west coast ports, like those in Seattle and Tacoma, shipping containers could only be moved by truck, which would likely mean the backlog of shipping containers that took months to chip away could return.
Companies that make chemicals, like those used to purify your drinking water, would stop shipping about a week before the December 5th cooling off period ends to make sure no dangerous materials are left sitting in rail cars.
Big retailers say most of the items you might want to buy for holiday gifts are already in stores or at least in their distribution warehousing, but a representative of one of the rail workers’ unions says UPS, Amazon and other companies rely on freight rail for some of their shipping, so he says just about everyone would be affected by a rail strike in one way or another.
Ian Jefferies, CEO of the Association of American Railroads, didn’t answer questions about workers’ sticking point on time off, including sick time, but he tells CNN he sees a path forward in talks. “The railroads have shown a commitment and a willingness,” Jefferies says, “to reach agreements based on the recommendations of President Biden’s Presidential Emergency Board, and that’s something that we stand by.”
The Northwest Seaport Alliance sent the following statement to Northwest Newsradio:
“The Northwest Seaport Alliance gateway in Seattle and Tacoma is proud to drive trade and economic activity across the Puget Sound region. Rail service is a key part of the supply chain moving imports and exports across Washington State and the country. We are hopeful for a timely contract resolution and remain in close contact with logistics partners to ensure that port activities remain operational.”