In the railroad union controversy, a lot of politicians were better than other politicians, but, when push came to shove, the government has sided with the bosses against the railroad workers again, just as they consistently have done since 1877.
After President Biden asked Congress to cancel the right to strike, Speaker Nancy Pelosi allowed the House to send two separate bills to the Senate. One would have added seven sick days to the previous proposal. It failed in the Senate while the other one, without sick days, passed overwhelmingly. Any railroad strike is now illegal, no matter how the union members voted.
The government’s decision and responses to it are historical. The bosses and the editors of the Dallas Morning News are celebrating. The biggest union that rejected the proposal said, “As prescribed by the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution, the SMART Transportation Division acknowledges the ability of Congress to legally impose the Tentative National Rail Agreement upon the operating-craft employees represented by the SMART-TD.”
The Railway Union blasted both Democrats and Republicans and suggested that labor should form a new party. They also suggested, "...that railroad workers need to consider doing away with the archaic and divided craft union system that hampers our unity and solidarity, and initiate the process of building a single and powerful railroad workers union that can win in future rounds of contract bargaining.”
The President of the AFL-CIO indicated that the legislative fight is not over, “The labor movement will continue to mobilize and push forcefully until every rail worker—and all America’s workers—has the paid sick leave they need and deserve.”
A Local Strike We Can Win
A part of the Communications Workers of America, the Fort Worth NewsGuild, has been forced on strike after two years of stonewalling by their bosses. The Texas Tribune reported, “the McClatchy-owned newspaper has revoked their health care benefits and listed their jobs.” Find out more on the union’s Facebook Page.
They are holding a fund raising Happy Hour from 5-7PM tonight, December 2, at Tulips FTW, 112 St Louis Ave in Fort Worth. North Texans are donating to their strike fund.
Jobs Market Still Strong
The monthly report from the Bureau of Labor statistics says that 263,000 new jobs were added in October. The overall unemployment rate is 3.7%, but it was 3.9% for Hispanics and 5.7% for Blacks.
BLS also reported that average wages were rising at a 5.1% while inflation continued to overwhelm wages at 7.7%. The contract just imposed on railroad workers allows for a 24% raise over 5 years, or 4.8% per year.
More Actions Coming Up
Dec 2, 5PM: Fund raising Happy Hour for Fort Worth Newsguild at Tulips FTW, 112 St Louis Ave in Fort Worth
Dec 6: Runoff election for U.S. Senate in Georgia
Dec 14, 11A and again at 5:30P: CWA 6215 Christmas dinner at 1408 N Washington. Contact Earnest etilley@cwa6215.org
Jan 13-16: Labor’s Civil and Human Rights Conference in Washington DC. Register here