So many of the fertilizer companies are already preparing for that reality.' 'Rail carriers have already notified that ammonia shipments will need to be pulled off of the network starting about five days before, which would be Dec. 'For us, the strike effectively starts this weekend,' said Corey Rosenbusch, president of the Fertilizer Institute on a call with reporters. 9, given that four of the 12 unions - including the largest - have rejected the tentative agreement brokered in September by the Biden administration, management and union leaders. The earliest workers could strike is Dec.

Strike threat in two weeks threatens the supply chain The call from the president comes weeks after the administration encouraged unions and management to come to an agreement on their own at the bargaining table - without congressional interference.

But I think we have to do it,' he said before the meeting. 'The president of course supports paid sick leave, including rail workers, but he does not support any bill or amendment that will delay getting this bill to his desk by Saturday and he has been very clear about that,' Jean-Pierre said.Ī rail strike is likely without congressional action, Biden warned Tuesday morning before meeting with bipartisan House and Senate leaders at the White House to talk about remaining legislative priorities. However, the Senate will also vote on both measures separately - meaning it's possible the contract could be approved without the sick leave change.Īfter the House vote, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that the administration does not believe the Senate has the 60 votes needed to pass the sick leave measure. The effort is meant to ease concerns from labor unions and some lawmakers, despite Biden's request not to alter the carefully negotiated underlying deal. The House also voted on a resolution that would provide seven days of paid sick leave to railroad workers. President Biden has been leading the effort to head off a strike that could upend transportation of goods and services, skyrocketing prices on everyday items, including gasoline. The House has passed a resolution 290-137 that would force unions to accept a tentative agreement reached earlier this year between railroad managers and their workers and make an imminent strike illegal. In an aerial view, freight rail cars sit in a rail yard near shipping containers on Nov.

Strike force bill