The Economic Impact of a National Rail Strike
Brief Published on October 17, 2022Rail is a crucial component of the US logistics system, and a strike would lead to significant logistical dislocations, exacerbate ongoing supply chain challenges, put additional upward pressure on prices and, thus, do substantial economic harm. Although a tentative agreement was reached between the major railways and union representatives (with the help of Biden Administration officials), it requires ratification by union members before going into effect. One of the largest of the 12 unions recently rejected the package, and concern has been expressed by several others.