The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation Nov. 30 to avoid a debilitating nationwide rail strike. The measures now head to the Senate, which has until Dec. 9 to act before a strike might begin. President Joe Biden supports the measures, but passage in the Senate remains uncertain.
Rail workers recently voted against a tentative deal reached in September to prevent the strike, despite a robust pay package, because of the lack of paid sick time. Under the Railway Labor Act, Congress can prevent or end national rail strikes, but hasn't done so since the 1990s.
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Seven Paid Sick Days Included in One Measure
The first measure on a tentative agreement passed 290-137. A resolution including seven paid sick days for railroad employees passed 221-207 mainly along party lines. Biden said, "Without action this week, disruptions to our auto supply chains, our ability to move food to tables and our ability to remove hazardous waste from gasoline refineries will begin." Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Nov. 29 that he and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., "agreed we'd try to get it done ASAP."
Resolutions Head to Senate
Both resolutions now head to the Senate, where the second faces uncertainty. It's not yet clear how many Republicans would support the addition of paid sick time. The measures were passed separately with this in mind. Regardless of whether there's enough...
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