FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 1, 2022
Contact: Emily Phelps | press@indivisible.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Andrew O’Neill, Indivisible’s Associate Policy Director for Economic Justice issued the following statement
“Rail workers are not getting what they deserve today, but that’s not for lack of fighting. Tens of thousands of workers have stood together for years, demanding a fair union contract that treated them with dignity, and billionaire railroad CEOs have refused even modest proposals on sick leave. Indeed, those billionaire CEOs have proven willing to risk a massive supply chain disruption, rather than make this small concession, despite record breaking profits.
“Faced with a vote to enforce a contract that did not include sick leave, and a GOP hungry to score political points against President Biden, House Progressives made the best of a bad situation, got organized, and attached an amendment including 7 days of paid sick leave in the deal - a core demand of impacted workers.
“The progressive position became the Democratic position, and Democrats in both chambers took up the fight to pass a bill that would include sick leave in the rail workers’ contracts. While practically every Democrat voted in favor, and the amendment received a majority of votes in both chambers, Republicans and the Senate filibuster successfully stood in the way.
“Of the 263 Republicans in the House and Senate, only 9 voted to give hard working people just 7 days of paid sick leave. That’s what the GOP came to Congress to do - to protect the hoarded power of the wealthy and well-connected, whether that means screwing over workers or undermining democracy.
“Though we didn’t win this fight, this was winnable, and a fight worth having. And we’ll keep fighting to ensure all workers, including rail workers, have guaranteed paid leave as a right. Democrats must continue to forcefully demonstrate that they intend to use their offices to protect and provide for working people - and expose the GOP’s allegiance to CEOs and giant corporations.”
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About the Indivisible Project
The Indivisible Project (501c4) is a social movement non-profit driven by a vision of a real democracy - of, by, and for the people. Indivisible began in 2016 as a viral guide to resisting Trump’s agenda. Today, the Indivisible movement is a network of thousands of local groups and millions of activists across every state. The Indivisible Project drives campaigns for bold progressive policies, lobbies Congress, and equips activists with tools to build lasting progressive power, everywhere. Together, we fight to defeat the rightwing takeover of American government and build an inclusive democracy.