IFPTE Applauds Tentative Rail Agreement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, DC – The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) issued the following statement in response to today’s announcement that a settlement mediated by the Biden Administration has been reached in the railroad stalemate:
“We commend the leaders of unions who represent workers in our nation's rail sector for advocating for their members' rights, particularly with regard to work/life balance. As the pandemic has taught all of us, family needs are often unpredictable. In addition, the pandemic taught us how important quality time with our loved ones is to our productivity and effectiveness on the job.
We also express gratitude for the aggressive yet fair approach that the Biden Administration, especially Labor Secretary Walsh, played in keeping both sides at the table, playing the role of a trusted third-party, and giving the unions and management the space they needed to come to a tentative agreement.
This is not just a victory for the rail unions and their members; it is a victory for the labor movement. We stand in solidarity with all trade unionists and with all labor leaders who fight to make sure that our rebounding economy benefits not only the shareholders, but the workers, as well.”
Across the United States and Canada, IFPTE represents 90,000 highly skilled workers in the federal, public, and private sectors. IFPTE is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO and the Canadian Labour Congress.