Rail worker unions slam both parties after Biden signs bill without paid sick days
Washington DC - Rail workers tore into both the Democratic and the Republican Party after President Joe Biden ended their efforts to secure a fair deal with the stroke of a pen on Friday.
At the end of a months-long standoff between rail unions and companies, Biden sided with the employers by unilaterally imposing a tentative agreement negotiated by his administration on workers who had rejected it.
It staved off a strike that the president insisted "would have devastated our economy."
Instead, it was the engineers, conductors, and many other laborers making up the rail system that were left devastated.
Despite the efforts of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders to secure seven paid sick days for them, the combination of executive interference and Republican opposition means that they will get exactly zero.
That potent mix is what Railroad Workers United (RWU), a union umbrella group, called out in its statement after the contract was signed: "We suffered a one-two punch at the hands of, first, the Democratic Party; the second served up by the Republicans."
Rail workers point out political hypocrisy
Continuing that sentiment, RWU General Secretary Jason Doering added: "Politicians are happy to voice platitudes and heap praise upon us for our heroism throughout the pandemic, the essential nature of our work, the difficult and dangerous and demanding conditions of our jobs. Yet when the steel hits the rail, they back the powerful and wealthy Class One rail carriers every time."
It seemed a particularly pointed accusation, given Biden's own remarks on Friday.
"I know this bill doesn’t have paid sick leave that these rail workers and frankly every worker in America deserves," he said. "But that fight isn’t over. I’ve supported paid sick leave for a long time and I’m going to continue that fight until we succeed."
There might be yet another chance for him to turn words into action. As The Intercept reported, unions might look to pressure Biden into mandating 56 hours of paid sick leave through an executive order.
So far, there have been no indication the administration is considering this move.
Cover photo: REUTERS