Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2022

September 15, 2022

The President. Well, good morning, everyone. As you might guess, I am very pleasedâ [laughter]âto announce a tentative labor agreement betweenâthat has been reached between the railway workers and the railway companies. This agreement is a big win for America and for both, in my view.

I want to thank the lead negotiators and theâfrom the labor movementâthe Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the Trainmen; International Association of Sheet Metal and Air and Rail and Transportation Workers union; and the other labor unions engaged.

And this is a win for tens of thousands of rail workers and for their dignity and the dignity of their work. It's a recognition of that.

During these early, dark, uncertain days of the pandemic, they showed up so every American could keep going. They worked tirelessly through the pandemic to ensure that families and communities got the deliveries they needed during these difficult few years.

And because of the labor agreement, those rail workers will get better payâa 24-percent wage increase over the next 5 yearsâimproved working conditions, peace of mind around their health care by capping the cost that workers will have to pay. And it's about the right to go to a doctor or stay healthy and make sure you're able to have the care you can afford. It's all part of this agreement. They earned and deserve these benefits.

And this is a great deal for both sides, in my view. The agreement is also a victory for railway companies. And I want to thank the lead negotiators from the Railwayâthe National Railway Labor Conference and our major rail companies. These companies also played a critical role in keeping America moving during the pandemic. And that's not hyperbole, it's a fact.

With this agreement, railroad companies will be able to retain and recruit workers. They'll be able to continue to operate effectively as a vital piece of our economy. They're really the backbone of the economy. I have this visual image of rails being the backbone. I mean, literally, the backbone of the economy.

So I thank the unions and the rail companies for negotiating in good faithâthey've been up for 20 straight hours through that negotiationâand for sticking with it, especially over the last few days. In fact, the negotiators here today, I don't think they've been to bed yetâ[*laughter*]âso I don't want to keep this very long, and they having to stand is aâbesides.

Together, we reached an agreementâyou reached an agreement that will keep our critical rail system working and avoid disruptions of our economy. And I'm gratefulâgratefulâfor the members of the administration who worked tirelessly on both sides to help get this done. I especially want to thank Labor Secretary Marty Walshâa card-carrying union member and the first union Labor Secretary in decadesâfor his tireless, around-the-clock work.

This agreement is validationâvalidationâof what I've always believed: Unions and management can work togetherâcan work togetherâfor the benefit of everyone.

They're traveling now. A number of them are up. But I want to thank Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack who were deeply involved, along withâI want to thank Deputy Labor Secretary Julie Su; Director of the National Economic

To the American people: This agreement can avert the significant damage that any shutdown would have brought. Our Nation's rail system is the backbone of our supply chain. Everything you rely onâand it's hard to realize thisâeverything from clean water, to food, to gas, to everydayâI mean, liquified natural gas, to everythingâevery good that you need seems to end up on a rail, getting delivered to where it needs to go.

With unemployment still near record lows and signs of progress in lowering costs, this agreement allows us to continue to rebuild a better America, with an economy that truly works for working people and their families. Today is a winâand I mean it sincerelyâa win for America.

So I want to thank you all for getting this done, both business and labor. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And may God protect our troops. Thank you so much. Thank you.

Q. Mr. President, when willâ[inaudible]ârailways will be back on line?

Q. Mr. President, is it premature to celebrate before the unions vote?

Q. Mr. President, reaction to the migrants being sent to Martha's Vineyard and DC, sir?

Railroad Industry/Inflation

Q. Mr. President, grocery prices are up over 13 percent. What do you tell struggling Americans?

The President. Rail is moving, and it's not going to go up.

NOTE: The President spoke at 11:20 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White House.

Categories: Addresses and Remarks : Railroad industry employers and workers, tentative agreement; Interviews With the News Media : Exchanges with reporters :: White House.

Locations: Washington, DC.

Names: Buttigieg, Peter P.M.; Deese, Brian C.; Drake, Celeste; Su, Julie; Vilsack, Thomas J.; Walsh, Martin J.

Subjects: Agriculture, Department of : Secretary; Diseases : Coronavirus, domestic prevention efforts; Economy, national : Improvement; Economy, national : Inflation; Employment and unemployment : Unemployment rate; Labor issues : Paid family and sick leave; Labor issues : Unions :: Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the Trainmen; Labor issues : Unions :: International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Union; Labor issues : Unions :: Labor movement and organized labor; Labor, Department of : Deputy Secretary; Labor, Department of : Secretary; Transportation : Railway system, labor dispute; Transportation, Department of : Secretary; White House Office : Economic Council, National.

DCPD Number: DCPD202200795.