The Senate Passes Railroad Legislation
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FILE PHOTO: A GE AC4400CW diesel-electric locomotive in Union Pacific livery, is seen ahead of a possible strike if there is no deal with the rail worker unions, as a Metrolink commuter train (right) arrives at Union Station in Los Angeles, California, U.S., September 15, 2022. REUTERS/Bing Guan/File Photo
SENATE PASSES RAILROAD LEGISLATION
1. WHY was the law necessary? If there was a railroads strike it would cause many economic problems
2. WHAT is the power of CONGRESS in this example? regulating interstate trade;
3. List 3 facts and one OPINION:
Workers threatened a strike due to no paid sick leave
Biden propsed paid sick leave for them but was denied
Biden made it so the workers cannot go on strike
The President’s decision will probably make things even worse for workers
The Senate approved a measure aimed at avoiding a rail strike in eight days, without the paid sick days rail workers have been asking for. The bill to force unions to accept a tentative agreement reached earlier this year between railroad managers and their workers and make an imminent strike illegal — without making any changes — by an 80-15 vote. They rejected a measure to offer paid sick leave, 52-43. Both measures required 60 votes to clear the Senate. Both bills cleared the House on Wednesday November 30th.
If there is more Democrats in Congress then they would also give support to workers who work very hard every day. The divide is close with Republicans supporting business. President Biden applauded the move and vowed to sign it as soon as Congress sends it to his desk — which could happen as soon as Friday Dec 2nd. “Working together, we have spared this country a Christmas catastrophe in our grocery stores, in our workplaces, and in our communities,” he said in a statement. The raildroad workers were forced to work because legislators did not want to make any changes for the railroad workers and the Senate rejected the proposal of paying railroad workers extra sick leave. 60 votes from the Senate were required to make the deal work. Instead the Senate was not able to satisfy the demands of the workers and forced them to go to work or be fired.
Why did Congress vote no to paid sick leave?
My opinion on everything is railroad workers should get more cerdit and paid more because they are helping us get better and safter transportation on the roads and this job could also be dangerous .
3 Take Aways
1.It is necessary for transport because many people travel on trains to many places.
2.The power of the congress is that they MAKE LAWS to regulate interstate commerce but they also must hep protect the rights of citizens must pay well to the workers who work every day on trains.
3. A worker had to make a choice: go to the dentist to get a cavity in his molar filled or attend a party for his son’s 7th birthday. He chose family and could not go to the dentist because he did not have paid leave policy.
Photo source and discussion of the issues.