US Rail Strike Averted

US Rail Strike Averted

In recent weeks, the United States was on the brink of its first national rail strike in 30 years. The walkout was averted only after President Joe Biden and Congress intervened, forcing rail workers to accept the terms of a new contract.

The bill, signed on Friday, blocks the strike and forces workers to accept the agreements union leaders made in September, even though four of the 12 unions — which include a majority of rail workers — voted to reject them.

The five-year deals that rail workers wound up with include 24% raises and cash bonuses. But concerns about the lack of paid sick time and the demanding schedules that unions say make it hard for workers to ever take a day off dominated the contract talks. The rail unions say they weren’t able to get more concessions out of the railroads because the big companies knew Congress would intervene. 

While they won’t stop fighting for more paid sick leave, they may have to wait for negotiations on the next contract beginning in 2025.