Rail strike to cripple U.S. economy?

Rail workers threaten to strike demanding better working conditions

If tens of thousands of rail workers strike on Friday in demand of better working conditions—mayhem could ensue across the United States.

According to statistics, rail moves about two-fifths of long-distance American freight.

It also carry’s one-third of the nation’s exports.

These crucial shipments essentially provide the backbone of the American supply chain.

The Biden administration is involved in the talks hoping to prevent a halt that would deal a major blow to the economy.

But in the lead-up to the midterms, the discussions put President Joe Biden’s ambitions for combatting inflation at odds with his continued pledge to support labor unions.

On Wednesday, Amtrak— run on tracks operated and maintained by freight carriers—said it would cancel all long-distance passenger trains beginning Thursday in anticipation of a strike to avoid upending people’s travel plans.