The looming railway strike has been averted yet again, this time through government fiat.
The House has passed a bill that forces railways to give workers better paid time off; however, critics are saying that this is a massive blow to the labor movement and labor unions.
Critics say that the government is essentially forcing railway workers not to strike.
While the House has passed the bill, it still needs to make its way to the Senate, at this time it is unclear whether or not the bill will become law.
Joe Biden’s administration has been trying to avert a logistical disaster that would only contribute more to soaring inflation and the supply chain crisis, and, for now, Congress has halted the strike.
Still, the bill could fail to pass, or the railway workers could choose to strike regardless of what happens due to the perceived encroachment on their right to organize strikes and collectively bargain.
Here are the latest developments in this ongoing story:
BREAKING: The House passes legislation to avert a railway strike in a vote 290-137. https://t.co/RT8YFUbWcQ pic.twitter.com/i1lenlnsfH
— The Hill (@thehill) November 30, 2022
CNBC provided more details:
The House voted 290 to 137 — with 79 Republicans joining 211 Democrats — to pass the legislation, which approves new contracts providing railroad workers with 24% pay increases over five years from 2020 through 2024, immediate payouts averaging $11,000 upon ratification, and an extra paid day off.
Eight Democrats and 129 Republicans voted against the legislation.
In a separate 221 to 207 vote, the House also approved a resolution to provide seven days of paid sick leave in the contract instead of one, which is rail workers’ main disagreement with the current deal. As it stands rail workers don’t have guaranteed paid sick leave.
BREAKING: The House voted to block a potential railway strike in December by employees over paid sick leave and regular work hours.
The strike could have cost around $2 billion/day.
The House is expected to vote on another bill that would mandate seven days of paid sick leave. pic.twitter.com/iOucczacZg
— AJ+ (@ajplus) November 30, 2022
The House passed a bill on Wednesday to avert a railway strike, taking the first major step in avoiding a walkout of workers that would have drastic effects on the U.S. economy as it heads into the holiday season: https://t.co/MGWoQ3dJof pic.twitter.com/tJpLjrQ0ph
— The Hill (@thehill) November 30, 2022
The Epoch Times noted:
The top two Democrats in Congress and one of the top Republicans, after meeting with Biden, said legislation will likely pass that would impose an agreement on rail workers and operators.
“All four of us agreed we got to resolve this rail shut down as quickly as possible and that we would work together on doing it,” Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the Senate majority leader, told reporters outside the White House in Washington after the meeting.
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