TFI urges Congress Act to Avoid a Freight Rail Shutdown

Over the weekend, the Fertilizer Institute again urged Congress to take action to avoid a freight rail shutdown this Friday, September 16th. TFI sent a letter to Congressional leaders pushing for intervention to prevent a stoppage from occurring. TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch said, "A stoppage hasn't yet happened, but we are already feeling the negative effects of non-resolution."

Rail carriers announced late last week that shipments of fertilizer products, such as ammonia – a key fertilizer and building block for approximately three-fourths of all fertilizer – will start coming off rail networks this week. Rosenbusch contends the situation will get exponentially worse every day there is no resolution, adding, "if they cannot reach an agreement, Congress must act to avoid an economic catastrophe that will only add to inflation and increase consumer pain."

Congress can prevent rail workers from striking and has done so before, in 1986 when President Ronald Reagan intervened in the strike of workers for Maine Central railway.

Click Here to read this week's letter to Congress.

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