Democrats love unions, except when ... I mean ... what?
With the midterms safely behind them, most Democrats in the House (including my own representative) voted to force an "agreement" upon the country's rail workers that does not include any paid sick leave.
Then, in a separate vote on a separate bill that House Democrats knew would not pass the Senate, they voted to mandate 7 days of paid sick leave for rail workers.
This was so Democrats could talk out of both sides of their mouths. Yes, to save "the economy" we voted to stop the rail strike, but we also voted for rail workers to have 7 days of paid sick leave. Yet, when the dust settles, the rail workers will have been denied their right to strike, and they will also still have zero paid sick leave.
Some who live in other countries may be surprised to learn that there is no federal statute or regulation requiring paid sick leave for workers in the US. There had been an Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act for workers with COVID from April 2020 through December 2020, but that act has expired, even though COVID still exists.
Seeing a chance to prove their own loyalties to labor unions (hah!) most Republicans voted against forcing this "agreement" upon rail workers, and at this time it is not clear whether the bill will actually pass the Senate due to procedural obstacles and opposition from Senators in both parties. I hate giving Republicans credit for what I'm sure is a cynical ploy to stick Democrats with the effects of a national rail strike, but WTF Democrats, let the rail workers stike for paid sick leave.
In the private sector only 6.1% of workers are represented by unions, the lowest percentage since the Department of Labor began tracking this statistic (the percentage peaked at around 36% in 1953). Recently a friend of mine was questioning whether unionizing was a useful tactic in this 21st Century for what ails us. But I'd say it is better than nothing, better than allowing employers to unilaterally set the conditions of employment and fire people at will. But now a lot of union organizers will have to deal with people saying, "What's the point of joining a union when Congress -- including the Democrats -- will yank away our right to strike and impose fake 'agreements' upon union workers?"
Yes, what's the point of having Democrats in charge when they yank away what little power workers have in this country. It's a shame, and yet another reason why we suck.
Then, in a separate vote on a separate bill that House Democrats knew would not pass the Senate, they voted to mandate 7 days of paid sick leave for rail workers.
This was so Democrats could talk out of both sides of their mouths. Yes, to save "the economy" we voted to stop the rail strike, but we also voted for rail workers to have 7 days of paid sick leave. Yet, when the dust settles, the rail workers will have been denied their right to strike, and they will also still have zero paid sick leave.
Some who live in other countries may be surprised to learn that there is no federal statute or regulation requiring paid sick leave for workers in the US. There had been an Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act for workers with COVID from April 2020 through December 2020, but that act has expired, even though COVID still exists.
Seeing a chance to prove their own loyalties to labor unions (hah!) most Republicans voted against forcing this "agreement" upon rail workers, and at this time it is not clear whether the bill will actually pass the Senate due to procedural obstacles and opposition from Senators in both parties. I hate giving Republicans credit for what I'm sure is a cynical ploy to stick Democrats with the effects of a national rail strike, but WTF Democrats, let the rail workers stike for paid sick leave.
In the private sector only 6.1% of workers are represented by unions, the lowest percentage since the Department of Labor began tracking this statistic (the percentage peaked at around 36% in 1953). Recently a friend of mine was questioning whether unionizing was a useful tactic in this 21st Century for what ails us. But I'd say it is better than nothing, better than allowing employers to unilaterally set the conditions of employment and fire people at will. But now a lot of union organizers will have to deal with people saying, "What's the point of joining a union when Congress -- including the Democrats -- will yank away our right to strike and impose fake 'agreements' upon union workers?"
Yes, what's the point of having Democrats in charge when they yank away what little power workers have in this country. It's a shame, and yet another reason why we suck.