Rail unions decry Biden’s call for Congress to block strike. Businesses praise the plan
CNNNov 29, 2022
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.
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.
There's a 50% chance that at least 12% of American workers will be represented by a labor union in 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.