One of the biggest rail unions rejected a deal Monday, joining three others that have failed to approve contracts over concerns about demanding schedules and the lack of paid sick time.
That raises the risk of a strike, which could start as soon as Dec. 9 under a deadline that was pushed back Tuesday.
It wouldn’t take long for the effects of a rail strike to trickle through the economy. Many businesses only have a few days’ worth of raw materials and space for finished goods. Makers of food, fuel, cars and chemicals would all feel the squeeze, as would their customers.
