the probability of a rail strike in coming weeks has increased to 30 according to an analyst experts have estimated a strike could cause a 2 billion daily hit to the us economy the transportation division of the international association of sheet metal air rail and transportation workers smarttd one of the largest rail unions in the us rejected a labor contract on monday that addressed issues of pay rates and health benefits if congress doesn’t get involved in negotiations some unions will be able to go on strike as early as dec 5 while others could strike starting dec 9