On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.J. Res 100, legislation to adopt the tentative agreement between railroads and railroad workers reached in September and avert a national rail shutdown that likely would have plunged the economy into recession and worsened inflation and supply chain issues.
The bipartisan measure passed the House by a vote of 290 to 137.
Rep.Terri Sewell voted for the bill to block the union from striking. She also voted in favor of a separate measure, H. Con. Res. 119, which would add seven days of paid sick leave for railroad workers to the tentative agreement. This measure was a key priority for labor and a value that Sewell shares. Res. 119 passed by a more narrow vote of 221 to 207.
“A national rail shutdown would completely devastate our economy, leave shelves empty, and worsen the railroad blockages that we are working hard to fix,” said Rep. Sewell in a press release. “I am thrilled that Congress has acted quickly and decisively to avert this catastrophic outcome, all while securing key advances for rail workers. This agreement will provide peace of mind for families and businesses ahead of the holiday season.”
Congressman Jerry Carl voted against H.J. Res. 100, Enforcing the Railway Labor Tentative Agreements.
“Today, I voted against enforcing the railway tentative agreement because it is not the job of Congress to bail out President Biden after he failed to negotiate with railroad unions,” Carl said. “The last thing our country needs is Congress getting involved in private businesses by picking winners and losers.”
The tentative agreement includes:
· A 24 percent pay raise and a $5,000 bonus
· No changes in copays, deductibles or coinsurance costs
· Time off for routine, preventative and emergency medical care
· Requirements protecting the two-man crew
Sewell’s office justified the vote to prevent the strike claiming: that as many as 765,000 workers, including many union members, would lose their jobs in just the first two weeks of a strike; millions of families wouldn’t be able to get groceries, medications and other goods; many communities wouldn’t be able to acquire chlorine to keep their water supply clean; businesses wouldn’t be able to get their products to market, and that perishable goods would spoil before reaching consumers.
Supporters justified the decision to intervene in the economy by citing the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, which they claim gives Congress both the authority and the responsibility to act.
The legislation now goes to the Senate, where it is expected to get the 60 votes necessary to pass the Senate.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Wednesday, “The President believes that a bill averting a rail strike needs to reach his desk by this weekend. He is very clear about that because we need to protect the American families from potentially devastating effects of a real shutdown. And we have talked about that numerous times, and the President was really clear about that when he — when he put out his statement earlier this week.”
“Again, he’s a President for all Americans, and he believes that we need to avert a potential — this potential shutdown that would have a devastating effect on our economy, a devastating effect on jobs, a devastating effect in our communities across the country, and our — and our farms, as well,” Jean-Pierre said.
“Look, the President, as you know, has been — has been called by union — unions and labor leaders as a pro-union President,” Jean-Pierre continued. “And he takes that very seriously. He is the most pro-union President in history. And he’s worked tirelessly to secure victories for unions and for workers since he was first elected to Sen- — to the Senate.”
Jerry Carl was just re-elected to his second term representing Alabama’s First Congressional District. Terri Sewell was just re-elected to her seventh term representing Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District. Six of the seven House incumbents in Alabama were re-elected in November’s midterms. The seventh, Rep. Mo Brooks, opted not to run for re-election but instead lost in the Republican primary for the open U.S. Senate seat.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
