Railroad unions on Tuesday slammed President Joe Biden's call for Congress to intervene in their contract dispute, saying the move undercuts their efforts to improve working conditions and Mr. Biden's claim to be a pro-labor leader.
Biden said he reluctantly agreed that it would be best to override the union votes because the potential damage to the economy would be too great."Congress I think has to act to prevent it," Biden said Tuesday."It's not an easy call but I think we have to do it. The economy's at risk."
"It is not enough to 'share workers' concerns'," the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division union said in a statement."A call to Congress to act immediately to pass legislation that adopts tentative agreements that exclude paid sick leave ignores the railroad workers' concerns." The union is one of the four that rejected their deal.
Paul Lindsey, a longtime Union Pacific engineer based in Pocatello, Idaho, who is active with Railroad Workers United, said Congress and Biden seem to be sending the message that"your quality of life, your time off, your days, your standard of living doesn't matter if you getting a pay increase is going to hurt business."Sen. Bernie Sanders said that he intends to hold up the rail deal until there is a vote on paid sick time for rail workers.
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