Robert Reich: A railroad strike would be bad. Congress prohibiting one would be worse.

[Donkees]

Is there a better definition of corporate greed than a Warren Buffett-owned railway refusing to provide workers with sick leave despite the company reporting a net income of nearly $6 billion?

A railroad strike would be bad. Congress prohibiting one would be worse.

Robert Reich
@RBReich

[multigraincracker]

1. Those "Capitalist" sure hate

competition. Yet they are counting on the government to step in to break a strike. Time to look at nationalizing that industry, if they don't like unions.

[Lonestarblue]

2. Some things should not be run for profit.

Good examples are education, the military, and healthcare (though I doubt we’ll ever get the greedy profiteers out of that). National train service is another one. Europe, China, Japan all have great train services because they’re run by the government. Once profit-making entities got our trains, service went to hell. The freight companies treat railroad workers horribly. No wonder they want to striking. Congress needs to pass new labor laws that outlaw some of these practices. They also need to outlaw the abuse of companies like Walmart that prevent workers from working more than 30 hours a week so they can avoid paying for benefits those that call workers independent contractors to do the same.

[stopdiggin]

3. Think I might disagree here

For the simple (and singular) reason that I think a RR strike might be a good deal more than just 'bad.' Laid on top of the economic pressures that we are already confronting - a strike (that lasted more than a handful of days) could be close to catastrophic, and deal a huge amount of sustained damage and misery pretty much across the board. I'm not sure if the 'principle' involved here (while acknowledging there certainly is one) is great enough to counter that kind of national disruption. So - on purely practical terms - I think I need to go with President Biden on this one.

The country cannot afford another massive hit to its supply chain and economy at this time.

(And on the other hand - I would not be at all opposed to our political institutions using a degree of leverage - 'turn the screws' so to speak - over the industry, to achieve some type of 'equitable' solution for the workers. Maybe this too might be part of the Biden message?)

[oldsoftie]

4. You are correct. And Congress could force railroads to improve their offers

Cant they?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

6. They could, but they won't.

[oldsoftie]

7. But the Dems are still in charge. Allowing a strike would be terrible for the country.

AND the administration.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

8. They're not going to re-open negotiations, just force what's already been hammered out.

It's not up to Democrats to "allow" a strike.

AND the administration.

Well, they shouldn't have come out crowing about a TA when they knew it didn't give workers one of the main things they were pushing for. I'd say forcing a contract on a bunch of white blue-collars workers is not a great answer to "what can we do to win their votes back??"

[WhiskeyGrinder]

5. Strikes are supposed to hurt.

(And on the other hand - I would not be at all opposed to our political institutions using a degree of leverage - 'turn the screws' so to speak - over the industry, to achieve some type of 'equitable' solution for the workers. Maybe this too might be part of the Biden message?)

The pressure from Congress will be to take the TA as it is. They're not going to start over now.

[stopdiggin]

9. Just don't think this is a great time

to lay more 'hurt' on the American people, and the economy.

And (somewhat reluctantly) I'd agree with congress imposing an agreement to avert. 'Leverage' (which is admittedly a pretty much an unfleshed idea on my part) could come at a later date - and would almost certainly hinge on a return to solid Democratic control - which is also a consideration that comes into play with this situation.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

10. There is never a "good time" for a strike. That's kind of the point.

'Leverage' (which is admittedly a pretty much an unfleshed idea on my part) could come at a later date - and would almost certainly hinge on a return to solid Democratic control - which is also a consideration that comes into play with this situation.

Putting unions in the position of going along with Democrats now and accepting this shit with the promise that Democrats will support them later will bite the party in the ass in 2024.

[littlewolf]

11. Yup

Ding ding ding

Winner winner chicken dinner

[stopdiggin]

14. and I could have predicted that response

practically word for word. "Never a good time .."

Perhaps true (or at least a great truism) - but then, you would probably agree, some times are definitely 'worser' than others.

I respect the fact that you are stalwart in your position here - and I think you will have to respect that (on this particular instance) I disagree with you.
----- -----

Edit: that was not a real apt usage of 'truism' - 'aphorism' is probably closer to what I was looking for in this instance.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

15. I appreciate your gracious response.

[myohmy2]

13. you...

..squeeze when your squeezing has the greatest impact...what better time to strike than now?

...let the company meet the Union's demands and all will be well...

...

[gulliver]

12. Joe Biden's for Congress taking action.

I like Reich, but when Biden's take disagrees with Reich's, it's absolutely no contest. Biden.