Second railroad union rejects deal, adding to strike worries

The city of Omaha is in Nebraska. A second railroad union rejected its deal with the major U.S. freight railroads on Wednesday, reflecting workers' increasing frustration with the lack of paid sick time in the industry and adding to concerns about the possibility of a strike next month.

More than half of the workers who voted against the five-year contract were against the raises and bonuses. Two rail unions have rejected a deal this month.

The basic right of paid time off for illness was denied to workers due to the lack of good-faith bargaining by the railroads and the recommendations of a board of arbitrators that President Joe Biden appointed this summer.

The railroads, including a couple that made more than $1 billion in the third quarter, can offer paid sick time, according to the unions. The railroads involved were Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, BNSF and Kansas City Southern.

According to the railroads, the unions have agreed to give up paid sick leave in favor of higher wages and more generous short-term disability benefits in exchange for more time away from work. The unions that represent engineers and conductors were offered three days of paid leave to tend to medical appointments if they gave 30 days notice.

Related video: Railway strike possible after union rejects new contract

There is a chance of a future strike after the railroad union rejected a deal with freight railroads.

The railroads refused to give workers more than what the board recommended, and the board rejected unions' requests for paid sick time in favor of the largest wage increases in more than four decades.

Workers have been fighting for ways to improve their quality of life, and they want railroads to ease the strict attendance policies that keep some of them on call.

The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division union, which represents track maintenance workers, rejected the proposed contract because it did not include paid sick time. The two biggest unions that represent conductors and engineers will not release their votes until late November.

All 12 rail unions that represent 115,000 workers nationwide have to approve contracts with the railroads to prevent a strike, although there is no immediate threat of one because the unions that rejected their deals agreed to return to the bargaining table.

Congress can block a strike if both sides can't agree on a new contract.