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Biden signs bill to block U.S. railroad strike

Stock Markets Dec 02, 2022 03:06PM ET
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© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden addresses a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., December 1, 2022. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

 
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By David Shepardson and Nandita Bose

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Joe Biden signed legislation Friday to block a national U.S. railroad strike that could have devastated the American economy.

The U.S. Senate voted 80 to 15 on Thursday to impose a tentative contract deal reached in September on a dozen unions representing 115,000 workers, who could have gone on strike on Dec. 9. But the Senate failed to approve a measure that would have provided paid sick days to railroad workers.

"It was tough for me but it was the right thing to do at the moment -- save jobs, to protect millions of working families from harm and disruption and to keep supply chains stable around the holidays," Biden said, adding the deal avoided "an economic catastrophe."

Eight of 12 unions had ratified the deal. But some labor leaders have criticized Biden, a self-described friend of labor, for asking Congress to impose a contract that workers in four unions have rejected over its lack of paid sick leave.

"That fight isn't over," Biden said of the push for sick leave.

Railroads have slashed labor and other costs to bolster profits in recent years, and have been fiercely opposed to adding paid sick time that would require them to hire more staff.

A rail strike could have frozen almost 30% of U.S. cargo shipments by weight, stoked already surging inflation, cost the American economy as much as $2 billion a day, and stranded millions of rail passengers.

There are no paid short-term sick days under the tentative deal after unions asked for 15 and railroads settled on one personal day.

Teamsters President Sean O'Brien harshly criticized the Senate vote on sick leave. "Rail carriers make record profits. Rail workers get zero paid sick days. Is this OK? Paid sick leave is a basic human right. This system is failing," O'Brien wrote on Twitter.

Congress invoked its sweeping powers to block strikes involving transportation - authority it does not have in other labor disputes.

The contract that will take effect with Biden's signature includes a 24% compounded pay increase over five years and five annual $1,000 lump-sum payments.

American Association of Railroads CEO Ian Jefferies said "none of the parties achieved everything they advocated for" but added, "without a doubt, there is more to be done to further address our employees’ work-life balance concerns."

Without the legislation, rail workers could have gone out next week, but the impacts would be felt as soon as this weekend as railroads stopped accepting hazardous materials shipments and commuter railroads began canceling passenger service.

The contracts cover workers at carriers including Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP), Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRKa) Inc's BNSF, CSX (NASDAQ:CSX), Norfolk Southern Corp (NYSE:NSC) and Kansas City Southern (NYSE:KSU).

Biden signs bill to block U.S. railroad strike
 

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Comments (3)
Michael Galassini
RoyHobbs Dec 02, 2022 12:21PM ET
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Dems are pro-union....at least while they are courting your vote. Wake up blue-collar workers.
First Last
First Last Dec 02, 2022 12:21PM ET
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Republicans are much more anti-union.
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First Last Dec 02, 2022 12:21PM ET
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"Trump officials and meat industry blocked life-saving Covid controls, investigation finds: Congressional investigation reveals the lengths meat industry went to downplay risks to workers and lobby receptive Trump officials --  Trump officials “collaborated” with the meatpacking industry to downplay the threat of Covid to plant workers and block public health measures which could have saved lives, a damning new investigation has found."  theguardian.com
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First Last Dec 02, 2022 12:21PM ET
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lakes Tenn   Do you own research.  I gave you a starting point, more than you give.
Jurgen Daub
Jurgen Daub Dec 02, 2022 12:17PM ET
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you cant have all the mean and leave the bones for the rest of the country. bone in ribeye steak tastes better and so do bone on chicken wings
Jimmy Doodoo
JimmyD Dec 02, 2022 11:06AM ET
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And here I thought that Dems claimed to be the party of Unions. I guess that was just all talk and no action!
Mike Wellons
Mike Wellons Dec 02, 2022 11:06AM ET
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24% annual pay increase and 5 $1000 annual bonuses is all talk and no action lmao!
Mike Wellons
Mike Wellons Dec 02, 2022 11:06AM ET
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Why can't they use that huge 24% pay increase and simply take unpaid sick leave under FMLA law? Does the Rail industry have an exemption from unpaid sick leave under FMLA? To be honest, I don't know
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First Last Dec 02, 2022 11:06AM ET
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Dems are now more Republicans than the retrumplicans who are really rinos.
 
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