Joe Biden is calling on the US Congress to legislate “without delay” to prevent a potential major rail freight strike, he said in a statement on Monday, as negotiations between the social partners on a new spur deal unfold. .
The president, who says he is “proudly a union supporter,” says he is “reluctant” to use a piece of legislation, but believes a rail freight strike would “harm millions of people and families of the working class.” “I want to be clear: a complete closure of the railway would devastate our economy,” Joe Biden assures that he wanted the application of a tentative agreement that dates from September concluded between the railway companies and the unions, but that the members of the latter had to ratify. However, several of the 12 organizations involved do not want this agreement which has long been stumbled on in particular on the issue of sick leave.
If the application is not filed by December 9, or even December 5 depending on the calendars of the various stakeholders, the world’s largest economy could experience a strike that will likely shut down nearly 7,000 freight trains and cost it more than $2 billion a day, according to American Railroad. Association. Because even if only one union went on strike, the others would follow suit.
A strike “that would paralyze our economy”
Having to request congressional intervention, the newly octogenarian president suffered a political setback that compromised his momentum regained after the midterm elections, and as he plans to run for president again in 2024. to a 1926 law that gave him the power to prevent a rail strike, Congress could force the preliminary agreement, despite the rejection of some unions.
Joe Biden also asked Congress not to make changes to the preliminary agreement, either in favor of employees or companies. “Despite good intentions, any change could lead to delays and a disabling shutdown,” said the president, who says the parties reached an agreement “in good faith.” In her press release, Nancy Pelosi announces that the agreement will be voted on in the House and sent to the Senate without changes.
Source: BFM TV
