The case of Luigi Mangione, the 26-year old who allegedly assassinated UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in the streets of Manhattan, has become a major public issue in the United States. While many details remain to be explained, the response from different layers of society raises fundamental class questions.
A showdown over a looming railroad strike heads to the Senate floor this week, after a group of progressive Democrats, led by Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., pushed to modify a tentative agreement to include seven days of sick leave. The expanded agreement passed the House 220-206 on Wednesday, and the fight now moves to the Senate, where it remains unclear if there is enough Republican support to overcome a filibuster and send the agreement to President Joe Biden’s desk.
Railroads Have Invested Heavily in Congress. They Need Their Payoff in the Senate.
Related:
Why America’s Railroads Refuse to Give Their Workers Paid Leave
The answer, in short, is “P.S.R.” — or precision-scheduled railroading
President Biden published a statement Monday night calling on Congress to intervene to block a national rail strike and impose a contract which tens of thousands of railroad workers voted down. A few hours later, outgoing Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the House of Representatives would take up such a bill this week and send it to the Senate with the “hope that this necessary, strike-averting legislation will earn a strongly bipartisan vote…”
Biden calls on Congress to impose rail contract in a major assault on workers’ democratic rights
President Biden is “directly” involved in contract talks in the rail industry, following Monday’s rejection of a White House-backed deal by members of SMART-TD, the largest rail union, the White House confirmed in a press briefing Tuesday.
President Biden intervenes in rail talks in last-ditch effort to head off national strike
Saturday’s day of action, billed by unions as a “megastrike”, brought the UK’s rail, postal system and much of the nation’s container traffic to a halt.
170,000 UK rail, post and port workers strike in largest mobilisation this year
A national rail strike could still be on the table if rank-and-file workers reject the tentative agreement announced by the White House this week.
“It’s Not Over”: While Biden Touts Rail Deal, Workers Have Yet to Vote—And Many Remain Skeptical
Related:
Democratic House Speaker Pelosi to rail workers: Accept a pro-company deal or we’ll force you to
“It staggers the imagination that in September 2022 the workers who keep the trains running did not have even one sick day to care for themselves.”
Railway Workers Fight Shows Need for Paid Sick and Family Leave, Says Economist
Related:
Live updates: Railroad workers livid over deal brokered by Biden and unions to prevent strike
Congress intends to intervene to prevent a national rail strike and unilaterally impose a concessions contract, Steny Hoyer, the second highest ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives, told Bloomberg News on Monday.
Millionaires’ Congress threatens to intervene against potential US railroad strike
Video via Anarchistara
US Senator Bernie Sanders was the featured speaker at a rally held August 31 by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at London’s Congress House—headquarters of the Trades Union Congress. Billed as an event to “Save Public Transport” from Conservative government cuts, its purpose was to channel a growing wave of working class struggle behind the trade union bureaucracy and the Labour Party.
Bernie Sanders at RMT rally in London: Hawking the myth of a trade union revival
Ms. Cat’s Chronicles 
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