Two more unions have reached agreements with freight railroad companies, stopping a potential strike. The two unions represent 26,500 workers. Another union has extended a cooling-off period until February, as negotiations continue. A strike in the railroad industry could have cost the economy about $2 billion a day. Twelve of the thirteen unions that represent rail workers have reached agreements with the companies.
See "Railroads Avert U.S. Holiday-Season Strike With Union Accords", Lisa Caruso, Business Week, December 1, 2011