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ForbesMAR 11 2023
The US Senate voted 80-15 on Thursday to impede a potentially devastating strike of US railroad workers by passing a bill that imposes an industrial settlement.
The legislation, which passed 290 to 137 in the House on Wednesday, binds companies and employees to a Biden admin-brokered deal agreed upon in September. The House also voted in a separate bill to introduce seven paid days of sick leave for railroad workers, but this was rejected 52-43 by the Senate.
The decision to pursue the legislative intervention put Democratic leaders at odds with union heads. Pelosi addressed the concerns earlier, saying, “We are reluctant to bypass the standard ratification process for the Tentative Agreement — but we must act to prevent a catastrophic nationwide rail strike, which would grind our economy to a halt."
Biden is leading the Democrats in imposing a serious setback on employment rights. It's not enough for the president to simply share the workers' concerns, he must allow rail workers the ability to strike and ensure their voice is heard at the negotiating table.
Unions have forced Biden's hand — the risks posed by a potential all-out railroad strike were catastrophic and could have decimated the US economy. Democratic leaders have imposed a set of generous offers already agreed to by a majority of US rail unions.