Ranking Members Larsen, Payne Jr., Foushee Applaud Paid Sick Leave for Rail Workers
WASHINGTON, DC—Today, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee Ranking Member Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ), and Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee Vice Ranking Member Valerie Foushee (D-NC) applauded CSX, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, and the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen for their announcement that they have reached agreements to provide an estimated 5,000 employees four days of paid sick leave with full pay and the flexibility to use personal days as paid sick leave.
“I applaud the parties for coming to this agreement, which will allow thousands of rail workers the paid sick leave and flexibility they need to take care of themselves and their families,” Ranking Member Larsen said. “The other railroads should take note and work with their unions to provide paid sick leave for members. Two unions is good but all thirteen will be better. One Class I railroad is good but all seven will be better.”
“Sick leave is a basic right for all workers,” Ranking Member Payne, Jr. said. “I’m proud of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes and the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen for securing these benefits for their members. Now we need to extend sick leave benefits to all freight rail workers. I will soon be introducing legislation to ensure that all freight railroads follow suit and give paid sick leave to these men and women who keep our country moving. We’ve known for years that in this time of record profits, freight railroads can afford paid sick leave, and they simply refused to do it. Instead, they would prefer them to work when sick, which endangers the health of their co-workers and increases safety risks.”
“This agreement between CSX, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, and the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen will bring much needed relief and flexibility to thousands of rail workers,” Vice Ranking Member Valerie Foushee (D-NC) said. “Not only will it provide the hard-working folks in the rail industry the benefits they deserve, but it will also improve their quality of life. I commend the efforts between the parties involved, and I hope to see additional railroads follow suit.”
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