06 December 2022

Tell Biden to do the right thing

Since Congress voted last week to take away railway workers' right to strike and force them to accept a work contract without paid sick days (background and links here and here), labor supporters have pushed for Biden to issue an executive order granting the sick time.  So far, he has shown no sign of doing so.  There is now an open letter demanding that he take action, which has already been signed by more than ten thousand people.  You can sign it here; I already have (this also signs you up for an e-mail newsletter, but you can presumably cancel that if you don't want it).

I don't know how effective such an effort will be, unless signatures increase into the millions, which seems unlikely since the MSM and even the left-wing internet have been almost completely oblivious to what's happening.  But every signature helps, and we need to do what we can to keep up the pressure on Biden, in all ways available.  If he doesn't fix this, the next step may well be an actual rail strike -- even though it would now be illegal -- which everyone seems to agree would seriously damage the economy.  If that does happen, of course, the blame will rest entirely upon Biden and the trash in Congress who voted against adding sick leave to the contract they were forcing on the workers.

While you're here, read this post about the working conditions railway employees endure.  This is not safe.  I also note this addendum at the end:

So talking to a Railroad union buddy who just told me there is talk running rampant today.  Based on the Congress decision with no paid sick leave, many that qualify have filed for retirement and there is talk of mass resignations.  The railroaders have been working 3 years without a contract so everyone is going to get a nice big fat back-pay paycheck and then quit.

That would serve the railway companies and the government right.  These guys can't be arrested for illegal striking if they simply aren't railway employees any more.  Mass resignations on a large enough scale might cripple the railways and do almost as much economic damage as a strike -- which would last indefinitely since, unlike with a strike, the workers who keep things running would never be coming back.  And, again, we all know who will be to blame if this happens.

5 Comments:

Blogger Mary said...

You may find this history interesting and I will sign up to vote.

https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/december-5-2022?utm_medium=email

06 December, 2022 05:38  
Blogger Lady M said...

I signed it.

06 December, 2022 06:17  
Blogger Ami said...

I signed, too. But I resent not being able to check/uncheck a box so I'm not going to be bombarded with newsletters/other spam. We need to be allowed to opt IN... and be considered out unless we do. So tired of the overreach.

I'm disgusted by the turn of events and the candy ass crap politicians who allow this to happen... what weak pieces of shit they are. Why doesn't everyone deserve at least a few days of paid leave every year?

06 December, 2022 22:16  
Blogger run75441 said...

Infidel:

I read the same about being on call. I could not explain it the way it was told. I would think this should be a 24 hour rotation, If passed by 24 hours should pass before another scheduled call

06 December, 2022 23:39  
Blogger Infidel753 said...

Mary: Thanks for the link, and thanks for signing.

Lady M: Thank you.

Ami: Thanks for signing. It's annoying that they have it set up that way. It probably costs them some signatures. I signed it anyway because this is so important.

I can understand Republicans voting against basic decent treatment for workers. It's what they do (although six Republicans did vote for the paid leave). I can't understand Biden not fighting a lot harder for this, and still not issuing an executive order to fix it. It's been almost a week now. Frankly, I'm beginning to hope the workers hold an illegal strike and just burn it all down.

Run75441: Unfortunately, what should be and what is tend to be two very different things.

07 December, 2022 05:42  

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