NIT League wants Congress ready to prevent rail strike

   The National Industrial Transportation League, the nation’s largest shipper group, on Wednesday asked Congress to quickly consider and apply the terms of a recently appointed Presidential Emergency Board on both rail management and labor if the parties fail to reach agreement in the next two weeks.
   In a letter to all 535 members of the U.S. House and Senate, NITL President and Chief Executive Officer Bruce Carlton said in the event that labor and management cannot reach an agreement before the PEB deadline, “the League seeks your leadership in passing legislation that would end the strike and impose the terms recommended by the Administration’s PEB on both rail labor and management.”
   Carlton said it is estimated that a national rail strike would have an impact of $2 billion per day and that, “the nation and member companies of the League cannot be without the vital service of freight rail for even one day.”
   Earlier this month the PEB offered recommendations on contract terms that could serve as a settlement between the Class I railroads as represented by the National Carriers’ Conference Committee and rail labor.
   Ten of the 13 unions now have reached agreements with their railroad employers.
   “However, if the remaining unions do not reach an accord with management and a strike or similar job action is called, America’s freight rail system will shut down, including passenger rail systems that use freight rail track. Such a result would have a devastating impact on our economy, on businesses large and small, and further hamper the revival of our economy,” Carlton said.
   Under terms creating the PEB, the two sides have until 12:01 a.m. Dec. 6 to accept the board’s recommendations. If they choose not to, either side can resort to “self help” which could result in a nationwide rail shutdown.