U.S. President Joe Biden has urged the U.S. Congress to immediately pass legislation to adopt the agreement reached in September between railroad workers and operators to avoid a rail strike that would blockade the country.
«I call on Congress to pass legislation immediately to adopt the agreement between railroad workers and operators, without modification or delay, to avoid a potentially crippling national rail shutdown,» the U.S. president said in a letter released by the White House.
According to Biden, the agreement has been hailed by union leaders and workers as a «fair resolution» of the dispute between rail freight employees and industry companies.
However, some members of Congress — in both the House and Senate — are seeking to modify the agreement to improve it for both labor and management, which is holding up both chambers from ratifying the pact.
«However well-intentioned, any changes would risk delay and a debilitating shutdown. The agreement was reached in good faith by both parties,» the U.S. chairman has reiterated.
The agreement provides a 24 percent wage increase for railroad workers and provides increased health care benefits. In addition, it provides the ability for craft workers to take unscheduled days off for medical needs.
Meanwhile, and after all parties have come out in favor of the agreement, the White House occupant has warned that delaying ratification could lead to a rail shutdown that devastates the U.S. economy.
«Without freight rail, many American industries would shut down. My economic advisors report that as many as 765,000 Americans, many of them union workers, could be out of work in the first two weeks alone. Communities could lose access to the chemicals needed to ensure clean drinking water. Farms and ranches across the country may not be able to feed their livestock,» Biden said.
«As a proud labor president, I am reluctant to overturn the ratification procedures and the views of those who voted against the agreement. But in this case, where the economic impact of a shutdown would hurt millions of workers and families, I believe Congress should use its powers to adopt this agreement,» he added.
The President of the United States has pointed out that «this» is a «critical moment» for the country’s economy, right on the eve of the holiday season, which is why «the firm conviction to deliver better results for workers cannot be allowed to deny them the benefits of the deal they reached and throw this nation into a devastating rail transportation shutdown».
«Congress has the power to adopt the deal and avoid a shutdown. It must put aside partisan politics and division and deliver for the American people. Congress should send this bill to my desk well in advance of Dec. 9 so we can avoid disruptions,» he added.
