Class 1 Carriers Embargoing Traffic in Advance of Possible Railroad Strike Later This Week.

With the prospect of a railroad strike looming late this week, Class 1 railroads said over the weekend they are implementing plans to park hazardous materials starting today (Sept. 12).

Norfolk Southern said it would begin parking trains that did not include hazardous cargo as early as Tuesday.

The Class 1 carriers began sending notices to shippers last Friday to warn them of potential service disruptions should a strike occur.

In a joint statement, leaders of the SMART Transportation Division and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers called the moves by a carriers scare tactics.

“The railroads are using shippers, consumers, and the supply chain of our nation as pawns in an effort to get our unions to cave into their contract demands knowing that our members would never accept them,” the union presidents wrote.

The Association of American Railroads said in a statement that among the hazardous materials that railroads are sidelining in anticipation of a strike are chlorine, which is used to purify drinking water, and chemicals used in fertilizer.

“Railroads are taking all measures necessary to handle sensitive cargo in accordance with federal regulations to ensure that no such cargo is left on an unattended or unsecured train in the event of a work stoppage due to an impasse in labor negotiations,” AAR said.

The AAR statement said the anticipatory actions being taken by railroads do not mean a work stoppage is certain.

BNSF asked its shippers to contract members of Congress “to let them know the impact a rail service interruption would have on your business and your customers.”

Some railroad industry observes believe that the Sept. 16 deadline to reach new agreements might be extended because eight railroad labor unions have reached tentative agreements and extending the deadline would give members of those unions additional time to complete the ratification process.

Tags: class 1 railroads, Norfolk Southern, railroad labor contract talks, Railroad labor unions, railroad strikes, strikes