‘Economic Catastrophe’: Democrats Face Tough Choices Over Rail Strike, Potential Political Fallout
Congressional Democrats are facing tough calls over an impending strike of rail workers, which observers fear could cause an economic catastrophe for the United States’ already strained supply chain.
Railroad workers’ unions and major U.S. railroad services over the past several weeks have been involved in negotiations over wages and the railroads’ strict attendance policies, which limit workers from taking sick days.
Under current law, the right to strike is recognized, but rail workers will not be permitted to begin a strike until Sept. 16, which is only a few days away. The strike would be legally permissible because it falls 30 days after the Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) released guidance for negotiations, calling for a substantial pay bump, back pay, and cash bonuses….