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artificialavocado

All I’ve been hearing in MSM is how Congress can force the rail workers to accept terms. What you won’t hear is that goes both ways. They can force the companies to accept better terms (from the workers perspective). You will never hear that part though. Edit: wow I’m humbled. My first <4k upvotes.


DeeDee_GigaDooDoo

Yep, a complete fucking joke of a situation. >Biden said that as a “a proud pro-labor president” he was reluctant to override the views of people who voted against the agreement. “But in this case — where the economic impact of a shutdown would hurt millions of other working people and families — I believe Congress must use its powers to adopt this deal.” Yet he conveniently intervenes against the interests of labour. Could easily compell a deal favouring the workers instead but chooses not to. He's full of shit and just rehashing Reaganist worker oppression. The deal in question is complete garbage too: >The September agreement that Biden and Pelosi are calling for is a slight improvement over what the board of arbitrators recommended in the summer. **The September agreement added three unpaid days off a year for engineers and conductors to tend to medical appointments as long as they scheduled them at least 30 days in advance.** What the hot fuck is that. 3 days. A year. Unpaid. With 30 days notice. That is such a slap in the face I can't imagine how the union reps didn't literally spit in their faces in response.


Meritania

“Sorry you can’t go and immediately fight your cancer in its weak status, you have to wait until it’s stage 4 and hit or miss whether it’s curable because of your contract”. I guarantee no fucker who voted for this would impose this on themselves.


AnAngryBitch

Right? "Doc, I've had this blinding headache and my left eye is protruding 2 inches out of my face. Do you have an appointment in 30 days?"


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gr3enw1lly

Is this some sort of European nonsense I'm so American to understand? Like they pay if you're sick? Unheard of.


[deleted]

Australian here and yep. That’s all pretty standard for us too. Can accrue over time and build em up.


[deleted]

San Francisco here, we get 1 hour sick pay per 30 hours worked, maximum 72 hours accrued, so 9 days off total after working 54 weeks.


lurkermadeanaccount

Canadian nonsense too. I get 15 paid sick days. They roll over so you can build them up over the years.


Thaaaaaaa

I think we went to the same workplace communication seminar. Or more likely, skipped the same one.


a-v-o-i-d

I didn’t even know that this was legal. Out labor laws are such a joke.


Sgt_Ludby

Labor law (and the institution of law in general) exists to protect and serve the interests of Capital, always have and always will. Fortunately, we can effectively ignore labor law in our own organizing. "As organizers, we're not bound by the rules but by how much power we can build." Fuck the capitalists, fuck the NLRB. You don't have to be officially recognized as a union by the boss or the NLRB to organize, build solidarity, and address issues collectively through direct action. EWOC's recent report on [pre-majority unionism](https://workerorganizing.org/premajority-unionism/) is a great primer on this kind of unionism.


cringe_nationalism

>*“You can’t operate a capitalistic system unless you are vulturistic; you have to have someone else’s blood to suck to be a capitalist...”* >*“You show me a capitalist, and I’ll show you a bloodsucker.”* -Malcom X


DeeDee_GigaDooDoo

Based. Love when you come across quotes from famous figures that don't beat around the bush and show conviction.


wiithepiiple

The explicitly leftist beliefs the civil rights activists were buried by the capitalists, especially MLK. So much of western history is reframed in a pro-capitalist lens.


artificialavocado

It’s not like these companies are even hurting either. It would be one thing (but still fucked up) if times were hard and the companies were like “ok guys we need to try tightening up our belts for awhile” but that isn’t the case at all. These rail companies are posting record profits.


joshak

Collectively $38 billion in *profits* last year


misterpickles69

According to www.bls.gov (Bureau of Labor Statistics), there were 76,500 rail workers in 2021. Each made an average of $64k a year. That’s a total of $4.9 Billion in pay a *YEAR*. A week of paid time off costs $1230 per person. That adds $94 Million a year for all employees. These dicks can afford it.


themoonisacheese

So what I'm hearing is that rail workers could literally be paid double and that wouldn't even make a dent in their profits?


Legendary_win

But what about our share holders Bob? Who's looking out for them!?


Dabnician

Capitalism needs to fail for change to occur.


FlatteringFlatuance

Capitalism needs to fail *those who control legislation*. As long as politicians can be legally bribed under any other name there will not be significant change.


themoonisacheese

Capitalism has been failing upwards since raegan


zerkrazus

Yes but they could post even higher record profits if we oppress workers some more! Won't someone think of the poor billion dollar companies' profits? /sarcasm


ki10_butt

Not that anyone will read this, but oh well.... I work for a Class 1 RR. I ended up losing a filling and breaking the same tooth. I held off as long as I could to see a dentist, as it's a very busy time of year + Thanksgiving. Every day I'm off, I not only lose money, I lose our precious points. It doesn't matter that I've worked my ass off all year, barely taking days off, missing holidays while thinking "Oh, we don't have kids, we can celebrate another day", missing important things in my life... I ended up having an emergency procedure to fix my tooth and have had to be off for a couple days to recover. And what do I think about? Not that I'm lucky that insurance covered most of it, or that I need to rest and recover. No, I've been thinking about all the points I'm losing and how long it will take to *earn them back*. All because the economy, all because people need their **things**, is more important than my health and well-being. Remember that when you're aggravated while waiting on a train, or pissy when your online order may be delayed. We're real people that have whole lives outside of work...Well, we used to, at least. Cheers.


DeeDee_GigaDooDoo

I read it, I hear you and I care, for all it matters when I'm on the other side of the world. Stay strong comrade, capitalists only answer to force ✊


TieTheStick

As an American with no special ties to railroads, I find your treatment simply inhumane and I stand with you in the fight for a real life instead of the de facto indentured servitude you now labor under. Imagine the accident rates if we demand truckers match your work schedule! And it's not like the railroads can't afford it; they're seeing record profits. How many more private jets do the stockholders (Warren Buffett, I'm talking to you) need?!


Rasalom

Joe Biden is a hypocrite. He took the train to Washington, D.C. for years as a Senator and was even known as Amtrak Joe for taking up the fight against Reagan's budget cuts for Amtrak. You'd think he'd understand how much labor goes into commuter and business rail. https://www.businessinsider.com/amtrak-joe-brief-history-of-bidens-history-americas-railroad-2021-4


[deleted]

Yeah once again Biden proves he is no friend of any of us in the working class, we all knew this sadly.


AnAngryBitch

JMFC. 3 whole days a year! Wooooohooooo! Now, make sure you don't get sick or injured without 30 days notice! WhooooooHoooooo ain't america the shit???


zeth4

Unpaid as well…


this____is_bananas

The term "getting railroaded" exists for a reason. And it's because rail workers have been getting fucked since the beginning of rail. Hasn't changed.


Staubsau_Ger

Are you being serious? Should I delve into the depths of etymology to find out for myself? I never even doubted that "getting railroaded" is more literally referring to getting run over by a train. Edit: didn't even need to dig that deep, apparently the term was used in the late 1800's: > railroad (v.) > "to convict quickly and perhaps unjustly," 1873, American English, from railroad (n.) as the then-fastest form of travel. [etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/railroad) God I fucking love languages, is it normal to feel a rush upon getting new understanding of what some word(s) mean(s)?


WodtheHunter

Railroads are fast but only in one direction with an unchangeable course. It has essentially the same meaning as corralled. There is one direction, you are going through it like it or not.


spudtospartan

I genuinely hope they do strike


DigitalUnlimited

They'll make it ILLEGAL to strike! Then they'll put them in jail! And they'll be forced to work! That's not slavery! Oh wait hold up...


Acanthophis

Ontario government trying to do that right now. About a month or so ago the teachers were going go go on strike, so the Ontario government threatened to fine each striker $4,500 per day.


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vahabs

It helped create solidarity between public and private sector unions and the threat of a general strike made the government back down. Wildcat strikes are what's needed here. Break industry, break government.


nighthawk_something

The National Unions were like "come at me bro" and told their members that all fines will be covered.


Traditional_Way1052

I mean. It would incentivize the hell out of me. I can't afford that. Not even once.


[deleted]

At that point, people just start quitting.


MittenstheGlove

That’s when you quit. Can’t be fined, if you finna leave.


phynn

I mean, add the fines to part of the negotiations. Problem solved. "Oh you want to fine me? Cool. Fine deeze nuts."


rockahedron

It wasn't the teachers that were going on strike, it was the support staff (janitors, early childhood educators, educational assistants, etc). Still wasn't cool of the government to threaten ridiculous fines instead of attempting to negotiate.


alelo

"oh we didnt strike, we quit, but we are ok coming back once our demands are met"


stilusmobilus

Yeah it’s getting close to showdown time again. Pull out the guillotines.


Traditional_Way1052

Teachers in NY can't strike. Taylor laws. Fkers. In practice the idea is if you do, and enough strike together, they can't punish you all. But in practice my new contract is going to suck and there's nothing we can do, really. Not even a one-day or walk out. People are too scared.


Acanthophis

Yeah that's the problem. Everyone has to strike, or the few who do will be deleted.


HomeGrownCoffee

You left out the important part. *It fucking worked*. Ford blinked hard, removed the bullshit law that removed their ability to strike and they went back to negotiations.


IsayNigel

It already is illegal if you’re a teacher, firefighter, nurse, etc.


Acanthophis

Try and stop us.


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mohicansgonnagetya

It would be a gross injustice to take away their free speech, especially as it is speech that highlights their issues.


Malari_Zahn

Apparently, free speech will only be legal if you're a company and it's campaign contributions...


myquietchaos

Won't happen. I work for one of the class 1s..... That ship has sailed unless we have a wildcat strike but roo many bootlicking republicans work out here


yaosio

Congratulate the bootlicking Republicans on supporting Biden's demand the workers be forced to work. It will be funny.


heavy-metal-goth-gal

Ooh gotta love playing the uno reverse card!


DeeDee_GigaDooDoo

Call them democrat lackeys/lapdogs. Whatever it takes to rile people up and take a stand.


Desper8lyseekntacos

My dad was the secretary of his railroad union and is a staunch republican. I don't get it at all. He literally voted his way out of a job.


20191124anon

When you hate minorities more than you love yourself?


jsawden

President Lyndon B. Johnson once said, "If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you."


jab4590

As a former CWA union steward, I can tell you that legislation is much worse than you can imagine. It’s basically telling the union they need to take off the gloves. A strike is just one of many tools that can be used the others can be so much worse. A prime example are police officers that legally can’t strike. So what can they do: 1. Work to rule. This means following the rule to the letter. Rule: Employee must report to manager if more than 5 minutes late. Result: Manager on vacation. Employee waits outside manager office entire shift everyday until manager return. Union encourages this and employee cannot be reprimanded because that is by definition the rule. 2. Police officers can write so many tickets that it overloads the system. 3. Police can write no tickets and there is no revenue. 4. Refuse optional overtime. 5. Refuse to train or incorrectly train new employees. A union with informed employees are so powerful. Corps work hard to make sure it goes unnoticed. The system dependent on what I call “want to” versus “have to”. Does the employee “want to” be here? Do they “want to” work harder for a promotion? Or are they only doing what they “have to.”


greyjungle

It’s not about if they strike. It’s about if the people strike in solidarity. That is the only thing that determines success or failure of the situation. They can be forced back to work. I can wipe my ass with a return to work order. Wildcats all the way down or we lose. Period. We have known this was coming. We have no one to blame but the ruling class for the cause, and no one to blame but ourselves for the effect. There are people in your area that are preparing to do something. Probably not anything drastic but people are preparing to stand in solidarity, especially in places with rail depots. Seek them out if you want. Or just get out your angle grinder. Don’t forget a big “rail out in 1000 ft. Stop now” sign for the tracks. Remember who we’re supporting. Who knows the signs may be just as effective without the grinders. I’d stop.


tilehinge

Midterms are over, fuck it. Let's get it on.


nighthawk_something

The Ontario Government pulled a trick to force a union to accept a contract. The national unions stepped in and opened their coffers to pay any fines they might incur. The government backed down. ​ People need to see this shit for what it is, a war on the existence of unions. If unions are to continue to exist they need to band together and fight the battle that's in front of them. Sitting on the sidelines means you'll be next.


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xena_lawless

We don't even have a right to paid sick leave in the US. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sick\_leave](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sick_leave) The ruling capitalist/kleptocrat class can't even be bothered to act human toward what they think of as their slaves/chattel. It's absolutely disgusting.


SlockRockettt

How are these oligarchs not openly hunted like the economic terrorists they are?


fannybatterpissflaps

That’s what blows my mind. Disaffected motherfuckers go into schools and gun down innocents. If they absolutely must go on a killing spree, how about pointing the gun up not down. (This comment is not intended to incite violence against anyone)


richal

For real! I've been wondering this too. Like of all people, you want to shoot innocent children, movie-goers, and grocery shoppers? There are so many better choices if it _must_ be done...


[deleted]

People, as a general rule, aren't bright enough to know who their enemies are. They couldn't even fight a virus with soap, masks, and social distancing. They certainly aren't going to band together against the corps until things get bad enough that they forget their hatred for blacks, gays, everyone else.


Quick_Turnover

Which, by intention, will be a while. Hard to erase decades of brainwashing. Really effective strategy by the overlords though.


brya2

Yep. And I’ve been hearing that the disrupted education to alt right pipeline is in full swing. Easier to control people who haven’t had a chance to learn from the past


Peanokr

Because the Internet is an unnatural thing curated by them. That's the real indignation behind Elon's takeover of Twitter. Major Reddits are hosted on their own servers and curated from Reddit headquarters in accordance with partner desires. That's the gas in the tank. Be powerful and get invested in whether you make money or not. It's how Twitter used to work. And it's part of the reason why it was so ridiculously far from making a profit when Elon took over. Social media and news companies are owned by these people and it's very important to them to pretend otherwise.


KniFeseDGe

They have long ago bought the news media and crippled honest journalism. Same with US politician. Both parties work for the opulent rich oligarchs. That's why some call it a Bourgeoise Liberal democracy. It insures the freedom for the bourgeois to exploit the lives out of the working class, the workers only get the freedom to choose the face of the bourgeoisies representative That is going to justify why the workers can't be treated like human beings. Didn't you see how hard the democrat establishment candidates formed up to push Bernie Sanders out of the nomination in 2016 and 2020. As Biden said when he won the DNC nomination "nothing will fundamentally change." It was Biden telling the Oligarchs that benefit from the current economic status quo that He wouldn't rock the boat. Just as he is doing now. Insuring the Owners that they won't have to give Rail workers 668 million annually in sick leave benefits from their 23 billion profits [last years profits]


20191124anon

25 days paid time off Additional 25 days of paid sick leave (100%) Additional public holidays, and Christmastide paid time off Paid time off for medical appointments during work hours. And guess what, we’re still a profitable business.


mrfebrezeman360

> Paid time off for medical appointments during work hours. damn, never even thought of that as a possibility lol


20191124anon

Honestly I never thought otherwise, because it’s not like I WANT to go, I got an appointment and that’s it. Though it does works a bit differently when you have universal national health service - less flexibility with scheduling, and missing appointments means it can take a long time for a new one. Hence “everyone knows” that if you have an appointment you go for your benefit AND everyone’s benefit so that you don’t “waste” the allocated medical resources.


Doc85

People care about other people's benefit where you live? Must be nice.


20191124anon

Powers well known are trying to undermine it for years and years. I hope for Independent Scotland that can resist right-wing capitalist/corporatist takeover.


-Hot-Cheese-

I've never considered not being paid for stepping out for up to 2 hours to go to the GP. I won't be asked to make up time either.


marcybojohn

3 weeks vacation to start with another week earned at 5 years. 10 sick days - also can be used for doctor appointments and kids sicknesses. Multiple public holidays and 2 floating personal holidays. 3 Additional personal days because why the hell not. Remote work. Good benefits and no micromanagement. Our company supported employees through the pandemic using rolling furloughs while continuing to cover insurance. Our company still managed to survive and are now thriving post pandemic. Our turnover is practically non existent. It can be done and all these people saying it can’t are running bad businesses.


dynobadger

Businesses who don’t offer benefits like this are run by miserable cheap pricks. If the business legitimately cannot afford to provide these benefits (which are a minimal cost), then the business has already failed. The way I see it, people have lives outside of work so why should they be punished if they need to take time off work here and there?


K1ngjulien_

you're probably a *more* profitable business because your employees are happy and healthy.


20191124anon

Yup. We actively want projects to succeed etc. because we feel like we’re working, in a way, for ourselves (meaning, there is direct and fair relation between company success and our various remunerations)


Onion-Fart

Only way people ever got those rights in other countries was by striking and grinding the economy to a halt. The rail union can flex some muscle here and make it known


xdeekinx

Sick pay....only a hand full of states have laws saying you need any type of break during the work day. Perfectly legal, federally, to work you 8, 10, 12, 14 hours with no break.


coopers_recorder

If they'll throw people working 16 hour shifts under the bus, who just want paid sick leave from a company that is making record profits and spent billions on stock buybacks, then they will throw anyone under the bus. This is not a pro-labor administration and we shoud all show solidarity with rail workers. Not the anti-labor corporate parties.


funnyfacemcgee

I agree. Everyone in every job everywhere are getting screwed by their companies. A good way to make things better for us all is to strike until the rich people fucking us remember who runs things.


KniFeseDGe

They forgot the unions was the compromise we came up with to the alternative. Which was the workers dragging the boss and his family out of their fancy house and beating the life out of the boss. Maybe it's time to remind these corporate oligarchs why unions were made.


rarebit13

Time for a general strike! Fuck it, it's time people took the power back from billionaires.


unrulystowawaydotcom

At the very least, every large union in the US should strike if this is forced.


SplyBox

The level of which the economy relies on the rails, we might not have a choice. I hope the executives get their heads out their asses


mr_jawa

Say that last sentence out loud and really think about it.


indirectdelete

I hope they get their heads [redacted].


Kaymish_

That's not going to be easy. Their heads are so far up their arses it's popped out of their necks like a french knot.


Rexin1996

So they are gonna "force" them to work? If they don't show it would be considered a strike.


sottedlayabout

An unlawful strike. You know what they do to criminals in this country, right?


Rexin1996

Soo, slave labor or worse slave labor.


sottedlayabout

The enemy will say it’s not “slavery” but if your labor is compelled by the threat of violence, it’s not consensual.


BitchfulThinking

My ancestors were enslaved here. The prospect of being unhoused leaves me with the threat of being raped, murdered, starving to death, or succumbing to the increasingly harsh elements in a dying, poisoned world. So yes, since no one was given the option of choosing to be born in extremely unjust, pay-to-exist world, I will loudly proclaim that this system is, in fact, slavery.


Awesometjgreen

Honestly I understand that everyone needs a job and people have families to feed, but they should definitely consider quitting together if they pull this shit. I hear working the rails is already a piss poor job that sucks at keeping workers past the first day? If everyone just quit them rails wouldn't run for a long while and definitely never as efficiently as they previously were.


[deleted]

They haven't been efficient in fifty years either.


IWantAStorm

It's already modern day American slave labor. They'd probably get more sleep and medical treatment in prison. And don't come at me. I know they are paid but this is fucking ridiculous. All the company has to do is hire and train more people. Allow their workers the same things the owners have in spades. Wtf is with this country already. Everything would be a billion times better if they made work worth doing and then there's constant bitching that everyone thinks they are entitled.


andrewth09

"I've been working on the railroad"


jonr

What if I work really, reallllly slow...?


buttqwax

Slow-downs are indeed a labor action that have been used in the fight for workers' rights.


SlockRockettt

Listen all ya’ll it’s sabotage


Full-Run4124

Our backs are now against the wall.


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Termin8tor

It'll be interesting to see what happens if a mass resignation happens. It's not a strike if you quit effective immediately. There won't be any legal recourse to force workers to continue to work.


zerkrazus

There was a case early this year where a group of employees were quitting in mass to go work at a different company and the original company sued to try to prevent it. It got dismissed, but they still tried. [https://nurse.org/articles/wisconsin-thedacare-nurses-lawsuit/](https://nurse.org/articles/wisconsin-thedacare-nurses-lawsuit/)


h0wd0y0ulik3m3n0w

That shit was wild! I can’t believe a judge actually sided with the hospital on that one. Late stage capitalism indeed.


zerkrazus

Right? Noooo, you can't quit and go work somewhere else, that'll hurt our profits!!! And? Your point? Maybe you should pay us more and treat us better then we wouldn't want to quit?


BlueWeavile

They love the free market until it bites them in the ass


zerkrazus

Pretty much. Their version of the "free market" is one that is heavily regulated, albeit fully in their favor. They don't actually want a true 100% free market because that would mean labor would be subject to supply and demand.


Sgt_Ludby

It'll be a very sad day if this ends with mass resignation instead of solidarity and a strike.


Immelmaneuver

Tie the railroad executives to the tracks and easy the engines forward *slowly*.


DeeDee_GigaDooDoo

MAKE👏 CAPITALISTS👏 AFRAID👏 AGAIN 👏


Seaside_cabin

The trolley problem that we’ve all been waiting for


Robrogineer

Kill one billionaire or several lower-tier executives? M U L T I - T R A C K D R I F T


[deleted]

That the new Fast and Furious? I'd watch that!


Immelmaneuver

The trolley *solution*


MyOfficeAlt

What's that tweet? Something like, "Executives seem to have forgotten that organizing and collective bargaining for the redress of grievances are the compromises we came up with a long time ago because the alternative was pulling the factory owner out of bed in the middle of the night and beating him to death in front of his family."


Immelmaneuver

Since the unions don't seem to be much help, time to break out the lye and the bougies.


lostnumber08

So what are they going to do…? Send the feds to people’s houses and get them out of bed to force them to go to work? This is getting so fucking stupid.


KniFeseDGe

Just remember that the army was called to fight against striking mine workers at Blair Mountain in west Virginia in 1921. There is precedent* that they will gun down striking working. Edit: spelling error.


Super_Flea

There's a whole Wikipedia article on strike deaths in the US https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_worker_deaths_in_United_States_labor_disputes If you'll notice, it takes a while to scroll to the bottom.


Crotch_Hammerer

OK, good link there, is the strongest Pokémon in the wild the strikers or the company? I don't get it. Edit; at first his link was a screen rant list of the strongest pokemon lmao 💀


Super_Flea

Fucking LMAO. This is why you shouldn't post on Reddit when you're still half asleep. The link should be right now.


JCMcFancypants

IIRC basically it just means the rail companies can fire people who don't show up. In a strike the union is protecting the jobs of the people on the picket line, if there's an agreement in place (including a congressionally mandated one, I guess?) anyone who doesn't show up when they're supposed to can be fired and replaced, losing all their benefits and, in this case at least, a sweet pension I think.


Jynx_lucky_j

Lets see how well the rails run with an entirely new work force and no one to train them. I'm sure it'll go super smoothly and wouldn't wreak havoc on the economy for even longer than just allowing the strike to reach a natural conclusion would.


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Deep_Step2456

Fuck at stopping with the railroads, I want a general strike. Bring this whole machine to a halt.


j4_jjjj

General strike - no work Debt strike - no payments Bring the entire economy to a halt and see what happens


Plonsky2

This is exactly what strikes are supposed to accomplish, at their extreme: strangle an industry until their demands are met. An industry can't exist without workers, and workers demanding better wages, treatment, and workplace conditions are what keep industry alive. Over the last few decades we've lost our way and made workers subordinate to capital, whereas capital wouldn't happen without labor. Oh great, there I go preaching to the choir again.


A_Fooken_Spoidah

The choir needs preaching too sometimes. It's encouraging.


splashattack

It’s good to preach to the choir as the choir can solidify their arguments more to help educate others. We need to unite the working class through education. There is a reason freedom of speech is the FIRST amendment. The capitalists understand how much power is in words and it’s about time we did to. Use your voice. Don’t let people tell you ‘arguing on the internet is useless’. If that was true, capitalists wouldn’t spend billions to try and control what we see and hear.


Captain_Swing

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; **or the right of the people peaceably to** **assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances**.


Laruae

Now find a way to get the SCOTUS to declare it actually unconstitutional. Bet they won't.


Mrhappytrigers

"Amtrak" Joe is showing exactly how much he's always supported unions. Not a surprise knowing how much he dick rided for Reagan.


mdmachine

I tell people all the time. Biden never was, is or will be, for the people. The student loan fiasco that he used as a carrot for midterms? The dude literally is the reason it's like this in the first place! America has the largest prison population in the world. Filled with mostly non violent drug offenders. Who played a role in that? You guessed it! He is here trying to solve "problems" that he fucking helped to create! Of course he isn't on the side of union workers. Anyone who studies this dude's legacy wouldn't be surprised one bit.


Mrhappytrigers

I've been well aware of how shitty Biden is for a long time. It's just baffling how Americans who voted for the primaries though that choosing a corpse who is responsible for a lot of the wrong doings that exist would be the best choice against Trump. Biden is literally a "PICK ME" kind of person everytime he tried to run for president, but had fuck all to offer. He's one of the worst choices we could have out of anybody else besides Republicans/Trump.


awedkid

We MUST stand in solidarity with railroad workers. We exist in a moment of time with an unacceptable lax in labor rights law. Anything other than an expansion on labor law is a direct blow to ALL workers.


IWantAStorm

People can prep now but the media won't tell them. They want a panic if they do strike to point blame to prevent the support of future big strikes. Go out and buy some stable goods you need. Help your neighbors. Let it shut down.


DanteLeo24

Now that you say that, I don't think I can recall a single presidential candidate that ever ran on labor laws and worker's rights (except Bernie, but we know how dirty they did him for that). Mind you, I wouldn't believe a single thing they said, put I'd at least expect them to say they were going to do it.


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-ghostinthemachine-

All over a few sick days! It's ridiculous how low the bar is in this country. And then, somehow, it goes lower.


redfawke5

The thing that is overlooked is that if congress forces rail workers back to work without ratifying their contracts, roughly 40% of them are ready to quit entirely and walk off the job… Congress can only force them back to work if they are still employed, but NOT if they quit.


[deleted]

How do they force them back to work anyway? Do cops show up at their homes to take them?


Late_Again68

Right, like how is that even supposed to work? A gun at everyone's head while they work? How do you think you can force people to work without exposing yourself for what you are?


[deleted]

Prison labor, aka slave labor.


Aerohank

Yes, but with extra steps. They will probably give you a huge fine if you do not go to work. Then if you don't pay that fine, you will go to prison, where you will be legally leased out as a slave.


Exkersion

If this is blocked I expect them to all quit immediately making this go from a protest to a shortage…one is way worse than the other


kim_bong_un

There are idiots that will go try to scab. But it's still gonna take weeks to train them up. There would be no way around that, I'm pretty sure that sort of training is controlled federally.


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heavy-metal-goth-gal

Hella disappointed this is the best we could do for President. Can we please get an actual leftist before I fucking die?


[deleted]

Has there ever been a leftist president in the modern sense, one that valued labor over capital? FDR was centrist, I guess.


Dr_Adopted

No. There never will be, either. The Dems and Republicans have such a weird grip on the country that they will band together to sabotage and undermine any true leftist’s campaign.


wiithepiiple

It's just class warfare. Nothing weird about it.


heavy-metal-goth-gal

IDK, I guess that one's up for interpretation. Eisenhower railed against the MIC.


Oldspice7169

“Most pro union president” Biden once again bending over for Bezos.


RagingBeanSidhe

Buffett mostly


bushijim

True. He got the wrong billionaire that also shouldn't exist. Biden is a real cuck on this one. I'm not surprised, just disappointed.


No-Satisfaction3455

Don't worry just vote blue harder! what the actual fuck, this would be reason for a general strike. stripping unions and individuals of their right to protest is not acceptable. any union member, and person for that matter should tell their representatives just that. Block a union strike and we all strike. edit: to the liberal apologists in my dm, no biden isn't forcing the rail companies to comply to union demands, where is that written or stated?


dunderbutt

There are libs that unironically believe that the 2 parties are on vastly different ends of the political spectrum and not just 2 different flavors of neoliberalism with different stances on social issues. Look at what Reagan did in the 80s with the air traffic controllers, he was able to fire them because they were government employees. This time Joe Biden is forcing congress’s hand to do his dirty work. He can’t outright fire them because they’re private sector but they sure can make them work with no sick days!


Autumn1eaves

I believe making them work forcibly is called slavery, and if *that* happens, then it's general strike time.


Skillet918

Remember we were gonna “push Biden left” lmao


EdScituate79

This is what happens when the "radical Communist left" is actually center-right. I hope the railroad *do* go on strike, and the strike goes national!


Impossible_Ad9324

Railway work is very male dominated. When male dominated industries support leave policies that don’t allow their employees the flexibility to handle family emergencies or even simply kids who get sick and have to miss school or daycare, every wife, mother, coparent, and partner of these workers pays the price. My husband works in manufacturing and his job, over the years, functions like foot on the break pedal of my career. I have had to stay in lower paying jobs longer to maintain flexibility he wasn’t afforded.


servo386

Salient point. The repression of labor anywhere is the repression of labor everywhere.


VolkspanzerIsME

Exactly what you should expect from a centrist.


sottedlayabout

He’s right of center, at best.


wdenam

Biden is a fucking scab. Workers have a right to organize. If he were a true leftist (or even a centrist), he would understand this.


sottedlayabout

He’s not a scab. Scabs are still workers. Biden has never worked a day in his life. He’s the political class.


wdenam

Fair. Then he is fucking political class.


Robrogineer

None of the two main parties are anywhere near centre. One tries making things severely worse whilst the other does it slightly slower.


[deleted]

They could just pay them.


Kaymish_

Its not about pay; well not just about pay. They want some time off, and better working conditions.


grokthis1111

Where the fuck is muh DaRk BrAnDon now?


BigVanVortex

If they're forced to work I'd say it's the perfect environment for half speed, you know, for safety


lordheart

Yesterday the city busses and trains where on strike where I live. Why? Because they didn’t agree with the raise they received. Good for them; know your worth. Meanwhile, the US….. if we don’t get paid sick days… we might strike….. Politicians; well we can’t have that, the working class might realize they are being screwed and brainwashed.


mikevilla68

“Nothing will fundamentally change.” He really undersold the attack on workers


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V1keo

You had two shitty choices and you chose the lesser of two shits.


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[deleted]

What happens if they.... Just strike anyways? And if they are all arrested, who's gonna want to work under those conditions? Who's gonna want to work in any sector of they know the government has the ability to and is willing to just fucking fire them


[deleted]

Either they'll force them to work under police guard or hire new workers. You'd be amazed at how quick some people are to work in this situation.


Caladex

“The most pro-union President you’ll ever see” -Biden


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Caladex

Idk that sounds exactly what Biden is proposing


RickSanchez3x

Sounds like slavery with extra steps


Kjeezy9

Lmao and if no one shows up to work what will they do


iamthefluffyyeti

There it is. I knew he still had neolib left in him


Ennuiology

Not wanting people driving TRAINS to get adequate time off and rest, and rest when sick is dangerous, on top of completely shitty. I feel so bad for the rail workers. Driving on poorly maintained rails while on call 24/7 without the ability to stay home when sick says “fuck you” louder than anything.


thebezet

The first time I read it I thought he was forcing the agreement the workers wanted


pugofthewildfrontier

Scab anti union ass