Bernie Sanders blocks Republican proposal to override workers and stop a railroad strike: 'It is time for Congress to stand on the side of workers for a change'

The Republican proposal to push through an agreement for rail workers was blocked by the senator.

Workers want to be able to call out sick or for family emergencies. The Biden administration is trying to broker a deal as the strike looms.

The CEOs of the freight rail industry need to understand that they can't have it all, according to the speaker. The rail industry needs to agree to a contract that's fair. It's time for Congress to stand up for workers and not just the heads of corporations.

Even if workers didn't agree to a deal, the senators wanted Congress to pass a set of recommendations from the bipartisan panel.

"There are mechanisms that have been in the law for a long time to allow Congress to step in and prevent the economic disaster that would occur," Wicker said. It is time to invoke that law.

A shutdown would cost the economy $2 billion a day according to the US Chamber of Commerce. John Drake is the VP of transportation, infrastructure and supply chain policy at the Chamber of Commerce.

If workers don't reach a voluntary agreement with rail carriers, the proposal could overrule their decision on their contract. The Department of Labor and Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh have been facilitating talks between unions and rail carriers since Wednesday. A strike would be averted if Congress took action.

Workers need to be paid for time out sick and have a say in their contract, which was the focus of the debate between the three men.

If the CEOs and top executives of the railroads got sick or had a medical emergency, I wonder if they would be fired. I don't think so.

Under the current recommendations from the presidential panel, rail workers would not be able to take sick days. That is a hardline issue for the unions who haven't signed on to the tentative agreement

He said that the resolution would take rights away from workers.

The resolution is in the hands of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republicans are confident they will be able to pass it. It would require 60 votes to cross the threshold. Every Senate Republican would need to be joined by ten Senate Democrats.

"I don't think there's any desire for a strike or a lock out," he said. We hope that a settlement will be reached soon. If we reach a settlement, I would hope that the railroads treat their workers fairly.