US Chamber urges Congress to avert rail strike, extend Boeing 737 MAX deadline

The US Congress should prevent a potential rail strike and extend a Boeing 737 MAX 7 and 10 certification deadline before lawmakers end work for the year, the US Chamber of Commerce urged on Tuesday. The largest US business group noted that three rail unions have rejected a rail contract since October, and warned in a letter that a strike would be catastrophic for the economy, costing $2b per day. The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB), which represents about 300 rail employees, rejected an agreement on Monday. Railroads and unions have agreed to extend a potential strike deadline until at least Dec. 4. The Chamber also backed Boeing efforts to waive a December deadline imposing a new safety standard for modern cockpit alerts for the MAX 7 and MAX 10. The Chamber said Congress should extend the certification deadline until September 2024 at the earliest. Boeing CE Dave Calhoun said last month he is confident the planemaker will get an extension from the US Congress. Boeing has gotten support from major carriers like United Airlines and Delta that have ordered MAX 10 airplanes and some pilots unions. <br/>