Arizona rail workers react to labor agreement, no paid sick days

PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) – President Biden signed the labor settlement between rail corporations and their staff on Friday. Congress acted Thursday, passing a invoice to avert the rail strike. The Home handed a second invoice that might have given rail staff seven paid sick days, however that measure didn’t move the Senate.

Native rail staff mentioned they’re dissatisfied. Whereas they acknowledge a strike would have been devastating for the nation, they level out they’ve been preventing for paid sick time for years. “It’s been a terrific job,” Krista Garner mentioned. “I like my job, I like what I do,” Garner’s husband, Norm, mentioned. Each have been rail staff for 25 years. They labored their means as much as engineers, that means they drive the freight trains that carry the products we depend on.

“It’s been an outstanding job, don’t get me incorrect, simply with the deep cuts and the pandemic after which the attendance coverage, it’s been arduous,” Krista mentioned. “I get house from being gone for 48, 50, 55 hours and I’m again on a prepare in 12 hours. You realize, on my means again to Yuma,” Norm defined.

The Garners mentioned being a rail employee means you don’t have set days off. Trip time is set originally of the 12 months. There are private days, nevertheless it’s arduous to make use of these final minute. For those who want a sick day, it’s unpaid. Extra just lately, the Garners mentioned the rail corporations had instituted a degree system; too many sick days can imply you lose your job. “The purpose system is simply brutal,” Norm mentioned.

In line with the Division of Labor’s statistics, almost 80% of staff within the US receives a commission sick time. “My coronary heart actually goes out to the youthful folks that also have many extra years to work.” Krista mentioned.

Underneath the deal, rail staff will get a right away 14% increase, which is able to develop to 24% in 2024. In addition they get extra healthcare advantages and a further day of non-public go away. The White Home helped dealer the cope with rail unions again in September. However, sadly, it didn’t embody paid sick days, and staff rejected it.

Congress used its energy Thursday to move laws, imposing the labor settlement and avoiding a doable strike. A separate invoice that might have given rail staff paid sick days handed the Home however not the Senate. “What’s it actually going to price you. What, is it that a lot? Is it that a lot?” Krista mentioned.

In an announcement, the American Affiliation of Railroads, a commerce group that represents rail corporations, mentioned:

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