Railroad freight strike off after Congress passes deal Biden negotiated; workers lose paid sick leave bid

WASHINGTON — The nation isn’t going to get a rail strike for Christmas, but 115,000 railroad workers also are not going to get paid sick leave after the Senate passed legislation Thursday to enforce a contract deal.

Four out of 12 rail unions had rejected the contract that President Biden cut in September, leaving a strike looming as soon as Dec. 9.

The White House asked Congress to intervene under a 1926 law, and pass the deal Biden helped negotiate.

House Democrats nearly rebelled, but sent two measures to the Senate Wednesday — Biden’s deal and a separate resolution granting workers seven days of sick pay.

After being lobbied by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, most of the Senate’s Democrats voted Thursday to pass the sick leave provisions — but only six Republicans joined them, leaving the measure short of the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster.

Republicans did support the broader Biden deal without the sick leave provision — it passed 85 to 15. Biden is expected to sign it quickly to ensure no disruption of rail services.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer left meetings with Buttigieg and Walsh saying the contract was necessary to prevent damage to the economy.

“I am very glad that the two sides got together to avoid a shutdown which would have been devastating for the American people for the American economy, and so many workers across the country,” Schumer told reporters.

Many Democrats swallowed the deal with distaste.

“The solution is that people don’t have to come to work to try to operate trains after they’ve had heart attacks and broken legs,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) “But right now, where we are is caught between shutting down the economy and getting enough Republicans to join us in making sure that people have access to sick leave.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called rail management deplorable.

“They are maybe the worst case of corporate greed that I have seen,” Sanders told reporters before the vote. “These guys are making record-breaking profits, giving the CEOs huge compensation packages, and yet if a worker at the railroad gets sick today, that worker that’s penalized. I mean, that is really barbaric.”

Under the deal that passed, workers will see a 24% raise spread over five years. They also will secure better health benefits.

“Congress’ decisive action ensures that we will avoid the impending, devastating economic consequences for workers, families and communities across the country,” Biden said in a statement issued after the vote.