The two largest U.S. rail unions representing conductors and engineers are set to announce today results of votes on a tentative contract deal reached in September amid growing concerns a possible work stoppage could cause significant damage to the U.S. economy and strand vital shipments of food and fuel, Reuters reported. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the transportation division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART-TD) — representing about half of all unionized rail employees — are set to report results. Seven of the 12 unions involved in the talks have approved the deal, while three have voted against it but agreed to extend a strike deadline until at least Dec. 4. The standoff between U.S. railroad operators and their union workers disrupted flows of hazardous materials such as chemicals used in fertilizer and disrupted U.S. passenger railroad Amtrak service in September. The Biden administration helped avert a service cutoff by hosting last-minute contract talks in September at the Labor Department that led to a tentative contract deal.
