2022: Schweikert Voted Against A Settlement Of The Railroad Labor-Management Dispute Between Railroads And Rail Workers' Labor Unions, Which Prevented Labor Unions From Striking And Prevented Rail Companies From Taking Unilateral Actions. In November 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against a joint resolution that would "make binding the Sept. 15, 2022, tentative agreement to provide for settlement of the railroad labor-management dispute between railroads represented by the National Carriers' Conference Committee and their employees represented by labor unions --- thereby preventing the unions from striking or the companies from taking unilateral actions. It would specifically make binding the most recent tentative agreements, side letters and local carrier agreements entered into by the parties, including agreements that previously failed ratification. It would specify that the parties may still enter into a mutual written agreement to terms and conditions different from those in the tentative agreement, or to implement the tentative agreement." The vote was on passage. The House passed the joint resolution by a vote of 290-137, thus the resolution was sent to the Senate. The Senate passed the resolution and sent it to President Biden for final signage. The resolution was promptly signed into law. [House Vote 490, 11/30/22; Congressional Quarterly, 11/30/22; Congressional Actions, H.J. Res. 100]
The Resolution Set In Place The Rail Labor Agreement Set By The White House, Railroads And Labor Unions In September 2022 Without Additional Sick Leave For Workers. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The Senate passed a resolution Thursday that would put in place the rail labor agreement reached by the White House, railroads and labor unions in September, but rejected a separate measure to provide an additional seven days of sick leave to workers." [Congressional Quarterly, 12/1/22]
The Resolution Enacted Contract Agreement Provisions, Including A Large Wage Package And Enhanced Health Benefits. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The Senate voted 80-15 to pass the labor resolution (H J Res 100), which would enact contract agreement provisions including one of the largest wage packages in nearly five decades, according to its advocates, as well as increased health benefits." [Congressional Quarterly, 12/1/22]
Congress Fast-Tracked Passage Of The Resolution Due To A Threat Of A Rail Strike After Four Out Of 12 Labor Unions Refused To Ratify A Labor Agreement Set By A Presidential Emergency Board. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Congress has been racing against the looming threat of a rail strike next week after four out of 12 unions declined to ratify a labor agreement crafted by a Presidential Emergency Board." [Congressional Quarterly, 12/1/22]
Congress Needed To Pass The Labor Agreement Legislation By Friday, December 2, 2022, In Order To Prevent The Rail Industry From Losing Business Over The Weekend Due To A Labor Strike. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Schumer granted the vote on extra sick-leave provisions Thursday afternoon to build support for passing the labor agreement legislation by the end of the day. If the Senate hadn't approved the labor agreement by Friday, the rail industry expected to lose business as soon as the weekend, since industries that rely on rail shipping would likely pull out their shipments in expectation of a strike." [Congressional Quarterly, 12/1/22]
The Labor Agreement Resolution Was A Win For Railroads And Industries That Rely On Rail, Preventing A Rail Stoppage That Could Have Cost The U.S. Economy An Estimated $2 Billion Per Day While Delaying Supply Chains. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The now reigning agreement is a win for railroads, the industries that rely on them and the American public, industry representatives say. The Association of American Railroads estimated that a rail stoppage could cost the U.S. economy $2 billion a day, as well as back up key supply chains." [Congressional Quarterly, 12/1/22]
Labor Unions Who Were Advocating For Additional Sick Leave Called The Labor Agreement A Greater Issue For The Rail Industry's Morale Problem. According to Congressional Quarterly, "But unions advocating for additional sick leave call the agreement's passage a bigger problem for the railroad industry's morale problem." [Congressional Quarterly, 12/1/22]
The Brotherhood Of Maintenance Of Way Employees Division Of The International Brotherhood Of Teamsters: The Labor Agreement Legislation Precluded Rail Workers From Going On Strike And Rail Workers Are Instead "Jerked Around" By Attendance Policies, Bad Scheduling, And Demands To Show Up To Work In A Moment's Notice. According to Congressional Quarterly, "'It precludes us from going on strike . . . but it doesn't build camaraderie and trust with their workers,' said Clark Ballew, spokesperson for the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. 'Railroaders are tired. They get jerked around by terrible attendance policies, awful scheduling, demands to come in at a moment's notice because there's no one else to respond.'" [Congressional Quarterly, 12/1/22]
Some Republicans Criticized Congressional Action On The Labor Agreement Because It Set A Precedent In Governmental Interference Over A Private Matter And Could Allow Lawmakers To Get Involved In Future Collective Bargaining Agreements. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The unions received unexpected support from a handful of Republicans, including Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, and Marco Rubio of Florida, who criticized congressional action on the agreement for the 'precedent' it would set. 'By now everyone should realize nothing good happens when Congress gets involved in issues best left to the private sector,' Rubio said. 'Congress should have sent everyone back to the negotiating table, but instead it told rail workers to suck it up and be grateful.' Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, added that congressional action means lawmakers can get involved in 'every collective bargaining agreement,' stressing that it needs to be a 'last resort.'" [Congressional Quarterly, 12/1/22]
2022: Schweikert Voted Against Providing 7 Days Of Paid Sick Leave For Railroad Workers Every Year. In November 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against a concurrent resolution that would "make an enrollment correction to add language to H J Res 100 to require any tentative agreement ratified before enactment of the joint resolution or made binding by the joint resolution to provide for seven days of paid sick leave for railroad employees each year, the use of which may not result in penalties related to attendance. It would require parties to the rail labor dispute --- railroads represented by the National Carriers' Conference Committee and their employees represented by labor organizations --- to negotiate implementation of the sick leave policies within 30 days of enactment. If the parties fail to meet the deadline, it would require them to enter into binding arbitration to reach a resolution." The vote was on passage. The House passed the resolution by a vote of 221-207, thus the resolution was sent to the Senate. The Senate lacked a 60-vote majority and rejected the concurrent resolution. [House Vote 491, 11/30/22; Congressional Quarterly, 11/30/22; Congressional Actions, H.Con. Res. 119; Congressional Actions, H.J. Res. 100]
The Senate Rejected Providing An Additional 7 Days Of Paid Sick Leave To Railroad Workers, Who Held Up The Bargaining Process And Threatened To Go On Strike On December 9 Unless They Were Granted The Additional Paid Sick Leave. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The Senate passed a resolution Thursday that would put in place the rail labor agreement reached by the White House, railroads and labor unions in September, but rejected a separate measure to provide an additional seven days of sick leave to workers. The rejection of the sick leave resolution serves a blow to rail union workers who held up the bargaining process and have threatened to strike Dec. 9 unless they get the additional sick leave. The passed resolution would prevent unions from striking by imposing a contract agreement." [Congressional Quarterly, 12/1/22]
Without The Additional Sick Leave, Rail Workers Would Only Be Provided One "Paid Personal Day" And Three Periods Off For Health Care Visits Every Year, And Medical Visits Would Only Be Allowed Between Tuesday Through Thursday And At Least One Month In Advance. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Since the chamber fell short of the 60 votes needed to approve the sick-leave measure (H Con Res 119) --- the vote was 52-43 --- the rail workers will get one 'paid personal day' and three periods off for medical care visits annually. They will also be required to schedule the visits only on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday and at least 30 days in advance." [Congressional Quarterly, 12/1/22]