Machinists Members Reject Contract Proposal With Railways (1)

Nearly 5,000 workers affiliated with the International Association of Machinists have rejected a contract with rail carriers and authorized a strike, throwing a wrench in the Biden administration’s efforts to avoid a nationwide shutdown.

Members of IAM District 19 voted to give leadership the green light to strike if necessary—the first union to do so in the escalating battle between organized labor and rail carriers. But the local chapter said it also agreed to an extension until Sept. 29 to allow negotiations to continue, signaling that members may not strike immediately when a federal freeze ends at midnight Sept. 16. ...