Joe Biden has been celebrating his big win for a railroad union so that railway transportation could be unhindered. After all, the last thing we need is MORE problems for the supply chains, right?
That win is actually a loss. It turns out that the union deal is still pending because the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division of the Teamsters is saying no.
Management has been unwilling to offer paid time off so that employees can deal with sickness or family emergencies.
This really shouldn’t be an issue. Plenty of companies get paid time off for such things – and yet, the railroad industry wants to make people work regardless of what is going on in their personal lives.
Union President Tony D. Cardwell spoke frankly during an interview to explain, “Railroaders are discouraged and upset with working conditions and compensation and hold their employer in low regard. Railroaders do not feel valued.”
Essentially, railroaders feel as though they are not valued and that management has no regard for them having any kind of real quality of life.
The negotiations will continue – meanwhile, Congress won’t return until November 14.
Biden probably should have held off announcing that it was a “win for America” until he knew for sure that all of the railroaders accepted the terms.
Unions and management are NOT working together to ensure that everyone benefits, despite what Biden told the country.
The reality now is that the railroads may still shut down. It will cripple the economy and may lead to devastation during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. It is also quite problematic for many of the Democrats who depend on votes for the upcoming midterms. It’s no wonder why so many Democratic politicians are starting to distance themselves from Joe Biden.
