President Obama has created a special board to help resolve tensions between freight railroads and unions, a move that will forestall a strike for at least 60 days. The unions, which represent around 92,000 workers have not been able to reach a new contract agreement with the railroad companies. Some of the unions had voted to strike starting at midnight on Thursday. The President said that keeping the railroads running was in the interest of the country. The National Mediation Board has attempted to resolve the dispute for more than a year.
See "Obama order averts freight railroad strike for at least 60 days", The Associated Press, The Washington Post, October 6, 2011