Freight Railway Worker Strife Simmers: Labor Conflict Explained

An escalating labor dispute in America’s rail system is drawing attention to an often-overlooked piece of the economy: its role in the national supply chain.

Supply chain struggles have been snarling the economy for months, delaying goods and driving inflation. But for the most part, efforts to relieve the backlog have been focused on seaports and trucking—an oversight freight rail workers want to see fixed.

A Biden-appointed board last week issued a set of recommendations to resolve the dispute, but there’s no telling whether the unions and rail companies will agree. If they don’t, it could lead to a national ...