Unionized railroad workers are frustrated with brutal attendance policies and staffing shortages that have degraded work conditions. As a result, two of the largest railroad unions, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the SMART Transportation Division, have threatened to strike if contract negotiations do not include provisions to improve quality of life for their workers. If the railroad unions were to strike, it would halt long-distance trade across the country, worsening preexisting supply-chain delays and fueling inflation. As of September 12th, some shipments are being temporarily halted and customers notified in anticipation of a service stoppage.
See "Railroad unions set to strike if labor contract does not include benefits covering attendance policies and vacation and sick days", Lori Ann LaRocco, CNBC, September 12, 2022