Mastodawn

Frank Köhntopp 🖖Nov 29, 2022

1. The nation's 100K+ rail workers get ZERO paid sick days

They want FOUR

And are threatening to strike December 9

In response, corporate America is demanding Congress intervene and force them to continue working without any paid sick days

https://popular.info/p/railroading-workers

Railroading workers

Railroad workers across the country are threatening to go on strike on December 9, delivering a potentially crippling blow to the American economy. According to the Association of American Railroads, a nationwide rail shutdown could cost more than $2 billion per day. There are 140,000 miles of rail in the United States, which are operated by about 115,000 rail workers. This network serves "nearly every agricultural, industrial, wholesale, retail and resource-based sector of our economy." Passenger rail would also stop, disrupting hundreds of thousands of commuters.

Popular Information

Judd Legum Nov 29, 2022

2. The argument advanced by corporate lobbying groups is that rail workers are ESSENTIAL and a strike would be an ECONOMIC CATASTROPHE

But if these workers are so essential, shouldn't they get a few paid sick days?

https://popular.info/p/railroading-workers

Railroading workers

Railroad workers across the country are threatening to go on strike on December 9, delivering a potentially crippling blow to the American economy. According to the Association of American Railroads, a nationwide rail shutdown could cost more than $2 billion per day. There are 140,000 miles of rail in the United States, which are operated by about 115,000 rail workers. This network serves "nearly every agricultural, industrial, wholesale, retail and resource-based sector of our economy." Passenger rail would also stop, disrupting hundreds of thousands of commuters.

Popular Information

Judd Legum Nov 29, 2022

3. The railroad companies can certainly afford it.

Providing 15 days of paid sick leave would cost the industry roughly $688 million per year

Last year, railroad companies generated over $23 BILLION in profit

https://popular.info/p/railroading-workers

Railroading workers

Railroad workers across the country are threatening to go on strike on December 9, delivering a potentially crippling blow to the American economy. According to the Association of American Railroads, a nationwide rail shutdown could cost more than $2 billion per day. There are 140,000 miles of rail in the United States, which are operated by about 115,000 rail workers. This network serves "nearly every agricultural, industrial, wholesale, retail and resource-based sector of our economy." Passenger rail would also stop, disrupting hundreds of thousands of commuters.

Popular Information

Judd Legum Nov 29, 2022

4. To put this in perspective, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway owns BNSF, one of the nation's largest rail companies

One day last week, Buffett's net worth increased by $1.38 BILLION. That's enough to pay for 15 DAYS of paid sick leave for the entire workforce for two years

Judd Legum Nov 29, 2022

5. This wouldn't be an issue if, like every other developed economy, the United States required all major employers to offer paid sick days

But Corporate America has fiercely opposed paid sick leave legislation for decades

https://popular.info/p/railroading-workers

Railroading workers

Railroad workers across the country are threatening to go on strike on December 9, delivering a potentially crippling blow to the American economy. According to the Association of American Railroads, a nationwide rail shutdown could cost more than $2 billion per day. There are 140,000 miles of rail in the United States, which are operated by about 115,000 rail workers. This network serves "nearly every agricultural, industrial, wholesale, retail and resource-based sector of our economy." Passenger rail would also stop, disrupting hundreds of thousands of commuters.

Popular Information

Judd Legum Nov 29, 2022

6. Biden has sided with the corporate lobbying groups, urging Congress to pass legislation imposing a contract without paid sick days that several rail unions have already rejected

Biden says its necessary to avoid an economic catastrophe

https://popular.info/p/railroading-workers

Railroading workers

Railroad workers across the country are threatening to go on strike on December 9, delivering a potentially crippling blow to the American economy. According to the Association of American Railroads, a nationwide rail shutdown could cost more than $2 billion per day. There are 140,000 miles of rail in the United States, which are operated by about 115,000 rail workers. This network serves "nearly every agricultural, industrial, wholesale, retail and resource-based sector of our economy." Passenger rail would also stop, disrupting hundreds of thousands of commuters.

Popular Information

Judd Legum Nov 29, 2022

7. But Congress has a lot of other options. For example, it could impose a contract that provides paid sick days for rail workers. Or it could pass legislation providing paid sick days for all workers.

https://popular.info/p/railroading-workers

Railroading workers

Railroad workers across the country are threatening to go on strike on December 9, delivering a potentially crippling blow to the American economy. According to the Association of American Railroads, a nationwide rail shutdown could cost more than $2 billion per day. There are 140,000 miles of rail in the United States, which are operated by about 115,000 rail workers. This network serves "nearly every agricultural, industrial, wholesale, retail and resource-based sector of our economy." Passenger rail would also stop, disrupting hundreds of thousands of commuters.

Popular Information

Judd Legum Nov 29, 2022

8. Somehow, the way to avoid economic disruption is to give highly-profitable railroad corporations exactly what they want and force rail workers to choose between going to work sick and forfeiting their income

https://popular.info/p/railroading-workers

Railroading workers

Railroad workers across the country are threatening to go on strike on December 9, delivering a potentially crippling blow to the American economy. According to the Association of American Railroads, a nationwide rail shutdown could cost more than $2 billion per day. There are 140,000 miles of rail in the United States, which are operated by about 115,000 rail workers. This network serves "nearly every agricultural, industrial, wholesale, retail and resource-based sector of our economy." Passenger rail would also stop, disrupting hundreds of thousands of commuters.

Popular Information

Judd Legum Nov 29, 2022

9. Don't rely on an algorithm controlled by a right-wing billionaire to get accurate information.

Subscribe to my newsletter and get independent accountability journalism straight to your inbox.

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Judd Legum Nov 29, 2022

10. I'll add that the railroad corporations are likely not budging on paid sick leave because they are counting on the fact that, when push comes to shove, Congress will bail them out

No other developed country treats its workers this way

@juddlegum
Rail workers should probably just say 'nah, bro' and walk off the job, leaving rail idle for the holidays. At the very least, they get to be home for the holidays

MaryPot Nov 29, 2022

@KevinFlynn @juddlegum

Except then they would not be getting any pay. So - what will they be eating for Christmas dinner?

Unprecedented 2023 Dec 7, 2022

@MaryPot @KevinFlynn @juddlegum And the employers know it.

Adam Dalliance Nov 29, 2022

@juddlegum That's pretty shoddy.

Another thing Congress could do it nationalize the railway industry, sack all the bosses, and give the workers fair pay and fair leave and fair treatment.

Then arrest the bosses for profiteering and put them in jail.

That's what I'd do.

CJ the Awkward Lefty Nov 29, 2022

@pre @juddlegum Hell yeah

Tracy Hall Nov 29, 2022

@pre @juddlegum

I'm curious - which Constitutional provision provides the power to do this?

I'm not saying it's *wrong* , just wondering about logistics. Perhaps Congress could authorize funds to buy the railroads?

Adam Dalliance Nov 29, 2022

@video_manager @juddlegum
Dunno, I'm not American. Probably none of them I would assume, that's why America is so broken like this.

Can you change the constitution without a civil war? If not then one day it might take one?

Didn't FDR have a plan roughly like that? Perhaps all you need is the empty threat.

AmberWavesoFlame Nov 29, 2022

@pre @video_manager @juddlegum it is possible to amend it, but very difficult. It’s happened only 17 times in our history, (and once just was repealing a prior amendment that didn’t work out.) The last amendment was 1992, and before that, 1971. Essentially, it takes 2/3rds Congress AND 3/4ths our states (provinces). But since the early-mid 90s, we could hardly find that level of political unity even to agree that water is wet and ice cream is yummy.

AmberWavesoFlame Nov 29, 2022

@pre @video_manager @juddlegum in the case of your proposal, you’d have to fight several sources of sufficient opposition, for example the notion that employment laws should be left to individual states and almost all federal intervention is illegitimate, and an even stronger sentiment that the government owning or running any business or service is disastrous, if not Literally Communism.

Adam Dalliance Nov 29, 2022

@AmberWavesofFlame @video_manager @juddlegum
And yet they are happy to intervene and force the workers to work?

AmberWavesoFlame Nov 30, 2022

@pre @video_manager @juddlegum You’re giving our politics way too much credit for logical consistency. :)

Adam Dalliance Nov 29, 2022

@video_manager @juddlegum
It's not actually the constitution that stops them though, it's that they don't want to. They are the boss's mates. They are the bosses.

Tracy Hall Nov 29, 2022

@pre @juddlegum

In some cases, yes; in others (Biden) it's more like the overhang of a past ideology ("Capitalism and Markets are the solution to all problems, if guided liberally"), as well as listening to your friends and nodding familiarly saying "yeah, that sounds reasonable" when they say the most batshit things ("Railroads are critical, and REAL workers don't need sick days!")

Adron 🤘🏻Nov 29, 2022

@video_manager @pre @juddlegum nothing really gives em’ the power to do it but they have in the past. However it’s drought with risk. We have a freight system that is significantly bigger and more efficient already than any other country.

Adron 🤘🏻Nov 29, 2022

@video_manager @pre @juddlegum Also, workers do get sick days, not sure what this 4 days thing is specifically. However, whatever the case, the railroads absolutely should bump up their bennies and pay on a number of fronts. They should do better than 2 weeks parental leave too. We should do better than other nations and have at least 6 months or so.

Adron 🤘🏻Nov 29, 2022

@video_manager @pre @juddlegum final bit, not sure our system shifting to a privatized system would work very well like other countries. Our passenger rail nationalization has proven horribly inefficient and catastrophic. Kind of need to fix that mechanism before the government attempts nationalization. They’ll just wreck it and we’ll get fucked in the long term.

Tracy Hall Nov 29, 2022

@adron @pre @juddlegum

Rail workers, specifically, do *not* get paid sick days. It's kinda the whole point, here.

Adron 🤘🏻Dec 1, 2022

@video_manager @pre @juddlegum

Before I comment on anything else, they obviously should have sick leave. Reasonable and substantial amounts like 2+ weeks.

But I know tons of *rail workers* and *corporate rail workers* and they all get sick leave. It's disparate but I'm confused about the specifics here, and the railroads don't do me any favors with the information they have public. I've had to dig into it with friends that work on the railroads.

That's left me somewhat confused too as...

Adron 🤘🏻Dec 1, 2022

@video_manager @pre @juddlegum as I've ended up getting different answers from different people that work for different railroads.

Any pointers to where more data is available that tracks this stuff? For most companies - especially public ones - this information seems more readily available.

Tim Sloper Nov 29, 2022

@video_manager @pre @juddlegum
Railroad contract negotiations are governed under the Railway Labor Act that was passed 100 years ago. Totally antiquated.

DaisyDog Nov 30, 2022

@pre @juddlegum I take the vindictive stance myself.

Jessica Craven Nov 29, 2022

@juddlegum sheer insanity. Thanks for breaking it down so clearly.

noonan Nov 29, 2022

They should get sick leave.

Not that long ago a train company fired a number of rail road police. The federal rail police force is actually privately maintained. When thefts rose in LA the Union Pacific blamed democrats like Biden and Gascon and fit it into the rising crime/defunding the police narrative. The media ran with it claiming the crime spree was happening because of things like bail reform.

https://www.lataco.com/union-pacific-theft-police-laid-off/

Before Recent Wave of Train Cargo Thefts, Union Pacific Laid Off Unspecified Number of Its Railroad Police Force

L.A. TACO

noonan Nov 29, 2022

It fit perfectly into the Republican narrative blaming crime on Democrats. There were all these stories blaming the increase thefts on Democrats. Gascon is soft on crime, Dems defunded the police etc. The pictures of opened boxes were too sensational for conservative media to ignore. What they did ignore though was that the railroads had fired rail police not long before. Press releases by the Union Pacific helped this conservative narrative.

Jacob M Nov 29, 2022

@juddlegum why does America hate workers so much?!

reBuBuLa Nov 29, 2022

@juddlegum My husband works for one of the big carriers and when he had COVID, he did not get paid. I do not want a strike but the workers deserve sick days. Congress intervening on behalf of the carriers is infuriating.

Cj Nov 30, 2022

@moevortex @juddlegum I agree. All workers should have sick days. It makes no sense to me that railroads are making a profit yet won’t be humane with their workers. What happened to Biden standing with unions?

Appagal Crochet Nov 30, 2022

@moevortex @juddlegum I fully support your husband!

Lissi & Co.Nov 29, 2022

@juddlegum As the great granddaughter of a railroad worker, I appreciate your bringing this issue to light. The US can and must do better for its essential workers on the rails.

Disillusioned techno-optimist Nov 29, 2022

@juddlegum I thought the management had rejected too, no? I'll admit to not following this as aggressively as other newsworthy items...

Andrew Clement Nov 29, 2022

@juddlegum Paid sick days would never happen.
Companys love having contract employees with no PTO/Sick.

Look at the stink that passing the ACA had.

I wish it would happen, but I dont have faith

Brian Dear Nov 29, 2022

@juddlegum And then there are days when BRKA stock falls, and on those days you and Robert Reich are strangely quiet about billionaires’ net worths plunging. It’s a tired, ineffective populist argument. As a journalist you should be able to come up with something more compelling and convincing.

Jacob M Nov 29, 2022

@brianstorms @juddlegum I'm confused are you suggesting that we should strictly celebrate when stocks drop that hurt billionaires? It's fine to have some shaddenfreude, but to publicly celebrate that seems to fall a bit outside the professional duties of a journalist, don't ya think?

Brian Dear Nov 29, 2022

@jjm3x3 @juddlegum Nothing of the sort. I'm suggesting that attempting to make an advocacy argument in support of potentially striking railroad workers by pointing out the net worth du jour of a billionaire is specious. Same arguments have been made by Robert Reich and others on Musk's net worth, and then they all go quiet when the net worth plummets by billions due to market volatility. It just simply does not work as an argument. It's rabble-rousing, but empty. Journalists should know better.

su_liam Nov 29, 2022

@brianstorms @jjm3x3 @juddlegum Bring this up next time Elon or Warren are reduced to eating off-brand caviar, because their net worth dropped. Sorry, if even an impossibly precipitous decline, like 40 billion to 300 million just doesn’t evoke the sympathy of a guy living on his paycheck who can’t take a week’s vacation because he’s on call 24/7/365.🤷‍♂️

Brian Dear Nov 29, 2022

@su_liam @jjm3x3 @juddlegum Once again, jumping to conclusions. Who is trying to evoke sympathy?

Jacob M Nov 29, 2022

@brianstorms @su_liam @juddlegum just to be clear this entire conversation stemmed from a bit of the reporting that started "to put this into perspective..." It wasn't meant to highlight anyone's wealth just for the sake of highlighting wealth, it was using wealth to demonstrate the gap between the have and the have-nots.

publius Nov 29, 2022

@brianstorms @juddlegum

Come now. Labour productivity came unglued from labour compensation about 1973, and the gap, representing wealth reallocated to the rentier class, has continued to widen.

MaryPot Nov 29, 2022

@brianstorms @juddlegum

Billionairs can afford to lose theoretical net worth by hundreds of millions without batting an eyelash.

Why should we feel sorry for them?

Feeling sorry for workers who work HARD - earning a billionair millions of actual money - without being able to stay home and not infect others when they are sick - is what people with empathy do when someone or some many are being abused by big business moguls.

Slavery IS illegal in the USA, right?

Brian Dear Nov 30, 2022

@MaryPot @juddlegum The word is billionaire. And where is all this "feel sorry" stuff coming from? Why are you bringing that up? Does anybody actually read?

BCDodgeme Nov 29, 2022

@juddlegum wait - so this potential billion-dollar-a-day loss and bringing commerce to a dead stop is mainly over 4 paid sick days a year??

Andy Nov 29, 2022

@bcdodgeme @juddlegum yep. Railroad barrons are assholes…

BCDodgeme Nov 29, 2022

@unicornhog @juddlegum Clearly!

MaryPot Nov 29, 2022

@bcdodgeme @juddlegum

As I understand it, they have NO sick days a year at present.

BCDodgeme Nov 30, 2022

@MaryPot @juddlegum yeah, I saw a Washington Post TikTok where they broke it down. How can you not offer sick days??? That seems, like, straight forward.

T.Wllms Nov 29, 2022

Especially in the wake of the massive profits the rail companies are making... and the loss of 40K jobs to feed the corps bottom lines...

Voight Kampff Nov 29, 2022

@juddlegum wasn’t it CSX that also stated that workers don’t contribute to profits?! These companies are evil!

Debm133 Nov 29, 2022

@juddlegum paid sick days help prevent the spread of Covid! And many rail workers interact with the broad public. Seems like they should have some paid sick days.

Silversalty Nov 29, 2022

@juddlegum
This is why I see Biden as intentionally working to screw workers. It was his group that set a weak worker agreement to bypass election effects. Now he'll blame workers as threat to nation. But there are two sides to this and somehow the rail barons, who have posted record profits, are the angels above reproach.

This is typical establishment Dem work. See Biden and pressure on progressives in House to drop demand to pair BBB/BIF, giving Manchin control of major legislation.

Ido Amir Nov 29, 2022

@juddlegum Because, Judd, for corporate America, "essential worker" really means slave.