The Biden administration successfully helped broker an agreement between the National Railway Labor Conference and 12 labor unions on September 15. But two unions voted against the agreement while four others continue reviewing it.
The food and agriculture groups sent a letter to congressional leadership saying action will be necessary if the parties fail to reach an agreement.
“Resolution of the dispute before November 19 is necessary to ensure uninterrupted rail service,” the letter says. “Adding urgency to the matter is critical inputs, and agricultural products like ammonia could be embargoed starting November 14.”
They say a rail strike would be “catastrophic” to the U.S. economy.