With ten days to go before the "cooling-off" period ends and no final agreement between the rail unions and the freight railroads in sight, President Biden has decided that it is time for Congress to act to end the threat of a work stoppage. Speaker Pelosi has agreed and the House will vote on a measure this week. The timing and outcome of action in the U.S. Senate are less certain.
The House bill apparently will codify the tentative agreement reached by the the unions and railroads. This means the unions' members will not have their demands for additional paid sick leave met. Four unions' members have rejected ratification of that tentative agreement. There have already been expressions of deep disappointment and frustration from some members who voted "no," and perhaps some of those who voted "yes."
The President, who describes himself as the most pro-labor President in U.S. history, is in a bind. There is real reason for concern that further collective bargaining will not yield an agreement. The parties appear to be at an impasse, even after months of mediation and a Presidential Emergency Board. The President cannot allow a national freight rail work stoppage to shut down large segments of the American economy. And Democrats will lose their majority in the House in about one month, which certainly means much greater risk both for the rail unions and the administration. In sum, there are no good choices left.
I expect the President didn't like having to make this choice, but leaders often have to do hard things that challenge their values.
Read the New York Times' coverage here.
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