WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden has called on Congress to impose the terms of a tentative agreement between railroads and unions, which would prevent a strike that could come as soon as Dec. 9.
Biden said he was calling for legislation to be passed “immediately … to avert a potentially crippling national rail shutdown.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House would “consider action this week,” CNN reports.
“Let me be clear: a rail shutdown would devastate our economy. Without freight rail, many U.S. industries would shut down,” Biden said in a statement issued Monday. “My economic advisors report that as many as 765,000 Americans – many union workers themselves – could be put out of work in the first two weeks alone. “Communities could lose access to chemicals necessary to ensure clean drinking water. Farms and ranches across the country could be unable to feed their livestock.”
Eight of 12 unions have adopted the tentative agreement based on the recommendations of the Presidential Emergency Board appointed by Biden this summer, which — as the Biden statement noted — included a 24% pay increase over the five-year life of the contract, retroactive to 2020.
“On the day that it was announced, labor leaders, business leaders, and elected officials all hailed it as a fair resolution of the dispute between the hard-working men and women of the rail freight unions and the companies in that industry,” the statement read.
But the tentative deal was rejected by the SMART-TD union representing conductors and other crew members; the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division; the Brotherood of Railroad Signalmen; and the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers. Unions that have rejected the deal have indicated that their members are concerned over working conditions — which the PEB left to local bargaining — while SMART-TD and the BMWED have sought additional paid sick time.
“As a proud pro-labor President, I am reluctant to override the ratification procedures and the views of those who voted against the agreement,” Biden’s statement said. “But in this case – where the economic impact of a shutdown would hurt millions of other working people and families – I believe Congress must use its powers to adopt this deal.”
The call for congressional action represents a significant change of course for the Biden administration. In a press briefing just hours earlier, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had reiterated the adminstration’s prior stance that the “best option” was for the parties “to resolve this themselves.”
Association of American Railroads CEO Ian Jefferies said in response to Biden’s statement that this “is the appropriate time for Congress to pass legislation to implement the agreements already ratified by eight of the 12 unions. A clear pattern of ratified agreements has been established and Congressional action to prevent a work stoppage in this manner is appropriate.” Earlier, the AAR had released a poll saying most Americans believe the tentative agreements are fair [see “Business leaders urge Congress …,” Trains News Wire, Nov. 28, 2022].
— Updated at 7:08 p.m. CDT with Pelosi statement.
supposedly the BLE&T, the teamster-controlled engineer’s union narrowly passed the agreement. Most of the guys on the trains don’t believe the reported count which took two months. Union leaders still report to the Fed’s trustee, think they pandered to the governments pressure to accept an agreement that took no action on the mandatory attendance policy?
I find it very interesting the four unions voting down the tentative agreement appear to be the four who’s members have the most physically demanding crafts and who’s work occurs primarily outdoors in all sorts of weather.
Was wondering when thinking of the last three presidential candidates (Hillary Trump Biden) does the term best and brightest pop into anyone’s mind?
How can you be all about collective bargaining and then ask Congress to “impose” work rules via legislation? This way of thinking is like government overspending and then saying there is no inflation. Constricting domestic oil production and then say there is no oil supply problems by draining our domestic reserves. Leaving the southern border wide open and then saying there is no immigration problem. This is completely nonsensical.
The Legislation has not even been introduced yet so you have no clue, let’s wait and see.
Also the “southern border” is not “wide open” as conspiracy theorists would have you believe, if it was you would know.
Mark, I have 2 close friends in the Border Patrol friends who say the southern border is out of control to the extent it could be considered “wide open”.
Right on Reiter; Canadian Pacific Christmas train is stopped for 3 hours at the Canada–Maine port of entry because the crews were not properly documented to cross the line. January 20, 2021, to present approximately 3,000,000 undocumented humans walk freely across the border. 1.) you are correct and everybody else is a conspiracy theorist OR 2.) like the three monkeys ” hear no evil, see no evil, there is no evil” 3.) one is deaf, dumb and blind.
ANSWER: Congress set up the Railway Labor Act of 1926, the Republican version of labor reform, and is responsible for the rules as it has Clear Power to Regulate Interstate Commerce–right there in the US Constitution! The Wagner Act of 1935 was the Democrat version of labor “reform” and under it no one with any supervisory responsibilities may unionize period–unlike in the transportation industry! End result: the CONGRESS sets up the rules—and Congress doesn’t like being asked to decide things!
This always happens.
What part of “over worked” and minimal allowable time off does the President not understand…All the railroads have to do is stop trying to run their trains will continuing to understaff their employment rolls. I say to Biden…butt out of it.
Agreed. Not everything -nor everyone- can be bought.
Here’s a labor settlement:
Nationalization. Conrail wouldn’t have been at the center of a “custody battle” between NS and CSX if it wasn’t profitable.
So you want a FREIGHT MBTA???
Biden turns his back on labor, what else is new. John Erhardt
Huh? The most Union friendly President? Can you back that up?
Biden promised a 15.00 hr minimum wage, the pro act and voting rights but so far nothing.
I say if congress makes them accept the agreement, those who don’t want it call in sick. What are they going to do? fire you? Then they would probably have to pay unemployment and still couldn’t run trains.
Sooner or later, the railroads will need to reach an honorable understanding with the men and the women who run the trains, maintain the R/W, and keep the locomotives in repair. Sooner or later. Let’s make it sooner rather than later.
IT was either FDR or more like Truman who had a Plan to draft the strikers into the US Army when that sort of thing was threatened. When the Congress is called in to “settle” these disputes–which they don’t like to have to do–they usually decide to find out who was “in the wrong” as in ’caused this mess” and find ways of penalizing them.