National/World Editor
On Dec. 1, Congress officially averted a major rail strike by pushing through a labor agreement between several major rail corporations and their workers. Signed by President Joe Biden the next day, the legislation prevents nearly 735,000 rail workers across the nation from striking indefinitely.
The agreement ratifies a deal that the Biden Administration helped negotiate this year, but was rejected by four of the twelve unions involved in the negotiations. Workers are to receive a significant package, including an immediate 14.1 percent wage increase, which will grow to 24 percent by 2024, as well as increased health care benefits and an additional day of personal leave. Nevertheless, the deal has faced opposition because of its lack of paid sick leave and its disregard for shift scheduling practices that workers believe are harsh and unfair.
Looming fears of a holiday strike united a largely divided Congress and pushed legislators into action. Had a deal not been imposed, rail companies estimate that the US economy would have taken a nearly 2 billion dollar hit per day. This made a holiday strike an unacceptable outcome for many legislators; As Senator Joe Machin of West Virginia stated, a rail strike would have a “painful impact on the economy”, while “squeezing West Virginians and Americans heading into the holiday season.”
The swift Congressional response is a continuation of legislators’ historic role in resolving labor disputes. Using the powers provisioned to Congress in the Railway Labor Act of 1926, including the ability to impose tentative agreements, add provisions to agreements, and even delegate independent bodies to strike deals, legislators pushed through an agreement.
Labor workers have expressed mixed reactions to the deal. While Congress has moved forward, some labor unions and workers still greet the deal with animosity. After Congress voted not to add seven days of sick leave to the agreement, the Transportation Trades Department labor coalition spoke for disgruntled workers when it boldly declared “shame on the 43 elected leaders who abandoned the working class.” They stated, “We will not forget it.” On the other hand, many unions and workers had wanted to reach a practical agreement; as New York Times correspondent Peter S. Goodman described, the general census among many workers was that there was “no way in hell they’re going to let us strike; Congress is going to intervene and this is the best we’re going to get.”
With looming fears of recession and holiday supply chain demands building, Congress and President Biden avoided what could have been a devastating strike in an essential economic sector. Nevertheless, the tentative agreement may serve as only a temporary solution to broader economic difficulties, with more to be concluded within labor and beyond as the nation approaches the new year.
(Sources; AP News, Vox, CNBC, NY Times)