Thursday, March 28, 2024

Some Union Workers Say Biden Betrayed Them – See His Response to Congress

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The Dec. 9 deadline to avert a rail strike that could cost the nation's $2 billion per day has prompted the to ask the lame-duck Congress to step in and force labor and management to accept a deal.

It's a big change from September when the president made a Rose Garden speech to tout a deal that promised rail union workers “better pay, improved working conditions, and peace of mind around their care costs.”

Rank-and-file members split on the Biden-brokered deal, with many rejecting it because it didn't address a top concern: paid time off. (RELATED: Rail Union's Latest Contract Rejection Threatens to Upend Economy Ahead of Holidays)

The result: the self-proclaimed “most pro-union President leading the most pro-union administration in American history” is turning the federal screws against labor:

I am reluctant to override the ratification procedures and the views of those who voted against the agreement. But in this case – where the economic impact of a shutdown would hurt millions of other working people and families – I believe must use its powers to adopt this deal.

What are those powers?

…because the US supply chain and economy are so dependent on rail, the was passed in 1926 to give Congress the authority to curtail strikes and resolve them if they do happen.

It hasn't used this power frequently, and the most recent application of it was roughly 30 years ago, when Congress acted to end a rail strike in 1992. At the time, Congress lawmakers passed a resolution setting up an arbitration system to address disputes between workers and the railroads.

The Railway Labor Act gives lawmakers a lot of leeway over how they could approach the current situation.

“Given that they have the power to force a settlement, I don't think there are any limits on that,” says Cliff Winston, an economic policy expert at Brookings.

In practice, they could require the unions and carriers to accept the September agreement as is, an option Biden, and leaders, are advocating for. They could impose additional conditions of their own, including the requirement of paid sick time, taking workers' reason for striking off the table. They could extend the existing cooling-off period so both sides have more time to negotiate. Or they could turn the talks over to independent arbitrators who would be tasked with finding a resolution.

Any resolution would need the support of 60 members in the , including 10 Republicans. Getting that backing, ultimately, could limit which option lawmakers decide to take.

There appears to be bipartisan support for some sort of congressional action. But the details are unclear. In the meantime, it's worth remembering the last time Congress stopped a rail strike, in 1992, then-Sen. Joe Biden was one of six members to vote against the action. (RELATED: Biden Agrees to Climate Reparations, Guess Who Pays)

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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Norman Leahy
Norman Leahy
Norman Leahy has written about national and Virginia politics for more than 30 years with outlets ranging from The Washington Post to BearingDrift.com. A consulting writer, editor, recovering think tank executive and campaign operative, Norman lives in Virginia.

13 COMMENTS

  1. Better to vote for the Devil than to vote for a Democrat.

    At least with the Devil, you know from the get-go where you’re gonna’ end up.

  2. Biden betrayed the unions. WELL THAT’S what you get for trusting the party. The Democrats could care less once they got you vote. Your just a vote nothing more. From now on you just a useless eater and if you took the jab your pretty much on your way out. When will you wake up. when your walking to the gallows Say good bye

  3. Sorry (NOT) but it is high time that some of the unions finally realize that the hand that they have been feeding all these years WILL slap them if they don’t stay in line and do as they are told.

  4. Ironic that pro-union Joe is betraying his supporters. How many times has Joey betrayed anyone? Let me count how often. Long list.

  5. Well, now the unions are learning that you can’t trust a biden any farther than you can throw him. He will say anything to get votes and will lie unabashadly.

  6. “Biden betrayed the unions.” Oh say it ain’t so?! Screw the unions! They voted for this lying moron and I hope they get their behinds handed to them. Everyone who voted for old Vegetable Joe throw all the rest of us under the bus and knew what a piece of garbage he is. And by the way, if you Union workers worked any less then you do now, you might as well just stay home!!!

  7. Old Man Joe AND the rest of the Dems do not give a wit about union working people. They want union money and backing of union bosses. Keep paying your dues, fools. I dropped out of two unions when dems went woke and socialist.

  8. Considering that the Republican Party has at least a dozen turncoat RINO’s who seem to vote more for the Democrats than they do with their own party, getting 10 of the traitors to vote with them shouldn’t be a problem.

  9. Once again Biden is the most dumbass politician in American history….and I am not even talking about his whole criminal family…..One man is destroying America with some of his most volatile demorat buddies……like AOC Habidass and Omar……all which can lick a redneck pickle…..You look like my enemy you will die like my enemy….

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