The workers who would go on strike work for freight rail companies, such as Berkshire Hathaway's BNSF and Union Pacific. They carry about 40% of the country's freight each year - vital goods including shipments of grain and other crops; chemicals such as fertiliser; three-quarters of new cars; roughly 70% of the country's coal and 30% of packaged food; as well as thousands of other products destined for store shelves. If workers walk out, that would knock roughly 7,000 freight ...