15 Sep Following all-night negotiations, a tentative railway labor agreement reached
Following hours of negotiation into the early morning, a tentative agreement has been made between railroads and rail union representatives preventing a nationwide rail shutdown ahead of Friday’s 12:01 a.m., deadline.
“We appreciate and want to acknowledge all of our members who contacted our congressional delegation and helped portray the importance of an operational rail network and the dire consequences our membership would have faced during a shutdown,” KGFA President and CEO Ron Seeber said. “We are thankful the railroad and its unions were able to reach an agreement as we’re beginning fall harvest in many areas of the state.”
Throughout the week, KGFA, with assistance from its national affiliate organizations, had been in contact with the Kansas congressional delegation to step in and avert a shutdown if an agreement couldn’t be reached. KGFA had also been a co-signor on a 100-plus organization letter to congressional leadership urging action be taken in the event of an impasse in negotiation.