Originally Posted by
Slick111
Yes. That’s the problem. The RLA is overseen and administered by U.S. Department of Labor,…..by and through federal mediators,….. who answer to the U.S. Secretary of Labor,……. who was formerly the mayor of Boston and a Massachusetts state representative and who likely has future political ambitions AND the need for political campaign funding.
While I hate the idea of unions funneling money to politicians, (especially those with a “D” after their names), it might be smart for DAPLA to test the waters and see if the Honorable Marty Walsh, U.S. Secretary of Labor, is in the mood to accept campaign funds from the unionized pilots of Delta Airlines and repay the favor by leaning on his federal mediator(s).
Just a thought.
A good look at politics and the RLA:
Rail union votes could force Congress to head off a strike.
Excerpt:
[size=12pt]Democrats are hoping they won’t need to get involved, but are also pushing railroads to make more concessions to appease rank-and-file union members who are angry over what they say are unfair scheduling and time-off policies.[/size]“I’m hoping the railroads will get reasonable, this is the 21st Century and to have skilled workers being denied sick leave, even unpaid sick leave, is unconscionable,” said Transportation Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.). Freight rail companies “are watching their record profits, ‘Oh my God, if we give people paid sick leave our stock might drop by a dollar.’ Give me a break,” he said.
When told that House Republicans have legislative text ready, DeFazio hinted that their plan won’t get the support of Democrats during the lame duck session.
“Oh, good for them, they’re not in charge, so we’ll see,” DeFazio said.
….
Republicans in both chambers are more inclined to just impose the recommendations of Biden’s board, which does not go as far as most unions want. The review board recommended pay increases but did not weigh in on workplace attendance policies that are a major source of anger among workers.
Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) told POLITICO that he and Sen Richard Burr (R-N.C.) will push legislation that would mirror the review board’s recommendations, saying they are “prepared once again to bring this matter to the floor.”
“And we hope there’s a resolution before that. If not, Congress must act,” Wicker said.
Wicker and Burr previously tried to force a Senate vote on a resolution, S.J. Res. 61 (117),that sought to impose the review board’s recommendations from September, when it appeared a strike was hours away.
“Everybody told us, ‘Once that recommendation comes out, you get nothing more; you either make that a contract and ratify, or Congress is going to impose it,’ and [BLET President Dennis] Pierce and I said, ‘Absolutely not. We’re gonna go all the way to the end. We’re gonna push for more.’ And we ended up getting a lot more,” SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson said.[size=12pt]
Important to note that Senator Bernie Sanders blocked GOP Senators Wicker and Burr with a promise to filibuster their attempt to intervene in the dispute. Unable to come up with the votes required to defeat the filibuster, the senators were forced to back down.[/size]