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White House Reaches Agreement With Railway Unions

and officials from the both sides met for long hours in Washington, D. C. With labor secretary marty Walsh. It's a much needed win for the White House this morning and that's where we find our very own aerial Hickson live in D. C. With the very latest. Good Morning. Ariel, Good morning Shannon baker. Well, the White House announced a tentative agreement between rail companies and unions representing about 100,000 workers early this morning. It's likely averting a strike that could have brought supply chains in the world's biggest economy to a standstill by midnight friday. That's something the biden administration said would be a quote, unacceptable outcome for the economy and the american people. So this is how it all went down, negotiators met for 20 executive hours at the Department of labor before the 12 railway unions put the strike on hold. The tentative agreement includes better pay, working conditions and reduced health care costs. A national railroad strike could have energized already surging inflation, delay, food and supply shipments and as you mentioned, cost the US economy $2 billion a day. The president called the tentative agreement a win for thousands of rail workers as well as the companies who will now be able to quote, retain and recruit more workers. According to the White House. The new contracts give rail workers a 24% wage increase over the five year period from 2020 to 2024. It also includes an immediate payout of $11,000 on average. The deal now goes back to the unions for a vote after which there will be a cooling off period of several weeks in preparation for the potential strike. Amtrak canceled all long distance trains. Norfolk southern issued some embargoes for certain shipments and BNSF Railway's stopped moving refrigerated units into non coastal facilities. It's unclear how or when these shipments and trains will get back on track and Ariel, what's also the latest with President Biden and the Royals ahead of his trip to attend Queen Elizabeth's funeral here. So just yesterday, the president called king Charles the third to offer his condolences on the passing of the queen. During the call, he mentioned visiting the queen back in june recalling her quote kindness and hospitality. He also talked about the quote, great admiration of the american people for the queen, which he says deepen the relationship between the US and the UK. President biden wishes to continue a close relationship with the king and plans to attend the queen's funeral with the first lady on september 19th and we will definitely be bringing you live footage of the funeral on monday. Thank you so much Ariel Hixson for that live update