What happened with the railway unions
Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2024 5:46 pm
Remember when the rail workers threatened to go on strike? Remember how everyone was mad at Biden, because he broke the potential strike and sided with the rail companies in order to keep the trains running on time? Turns out there was a lot going on behind the scenes.
After three years of negotiations, a strike was imminent. Biden brought them to the mediation table. They came up with a contract that both sides agreed on, except for one item: workers wanted paid sick leave.* Biden could either turn it over to Congress or let them strike. He chose the easy way. And everyone hedges their bets: the House passes the contract in one bill, and passes paid sick leave** in a second. The Senate passed the base contract, but a GOP filibuster killed the sick leave. Biden signed it.
But then, Bernie Sanders, with help from the Biden administration, worked with the unions to put pressure on the rail companies. Eventually CSX, one of the big rail companies, was convinced to offer paid sick leave. That agreement was used to pressure the others, and ultimately, the whole industry got on board. So something that in the media narrative reads as "Dems turn on unions" actually turns out to be "Dems help unions to get what they want... eventually."
I have issues with both political parties in the U.S., and the long-term and continuing support by both sides for atrocities overseas continues to anger me. But on the other hand, I need occasional reminders that they have real differences domestically, even if it's not always as different as I would like. And one side works far more often in directions that are important to me than the other. I dream of a day when we see true voting reform in a way that makes politicians accountable and allows for votes outside the two-party system to be made in a meaningful way.
*Holy shit! Rail workers didn't have PAID SICK LEAVE, and that was somehow the bone of contention?
**No seriously... no fucking SICK LEAVE?!? It outrages me every time I type it.
After three years of negotiations, a strike was imminent. Biden brought them to the mediation table. They came up with a contract that both sides agreed on, except for one item: workers wanted paid sick leave.* Biden could either turn it over to Congress or let them strike. He chose the easy way. And everyone hedges their bets: the House passes the contract in one bill, and passes paid sick leave** in a second. The Senate passed the base contract, but a GOP filibuster killed the sick leave. Biden signed it.
But then, Bernie Sanders, with help from the Biden administration, worked with the unions to put pressure on the rail companies. Eventually CSX, one of the big rail companies, was convinced to offer paid sick leave. That agreement was used to pressure the others, and ultimately, the whole industry got on board. So something that in the media narrative reads as "Dems turn on unions" actually turns out to be "Dems help unions to get what they want... eventually."
I have issues with both political parties in the U.S., and the long-term and continuing support by both sides for atrocities overseas continues to anger me. But on the other hand, I need occasional reminders that they have real differences domestically, even if it's not always as different as I would like. And one side works far more often in directions that are important to me than the other. I dream of a day when we see true voting reform in a way that makes politicians accountable and allows for votes outside the two-party system to be made in a meaningful way.
*Holy shit! Rail workers didn't have PAID SICK LEAVE, and that was somehow the bone of contention?
**No seriously... no fucking SICK LEAVE?!? It outrages me every time I type it.