On September 15, the United Auto Workers began a targeted strike against Ford, GM, and Stellantis (the conglomerate that includes Chrysler) in an effort to secure higher wages, a four-day work week, and other protections in the union’s next contract. The strike is a huge development for American workers, but it’s also a big deal for President Joe Biden—these car companies are central to his green-infrastructure agenda. The union wants assurances that the industry’s historic, heavily subsidized transition toward electric vehicles will work for them, too.
Biden, whose National Labor Relations Board has been an ally of labor organizers in fights against companies such as Amazon and Starbucks, has called himself “the most pro-union president in American history.” He has expressed support for the UAW’s cause (workers “deserve their fair share of the benefits they helped create,” he said last week) and has sent aides to Michigan to assist in the negotiations.
Didn’t he severely fuck the train workers unions a few months ago, or did I get that wrong?
The Biden Administration continued working on getting them their paid sick days.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/may/01/railroad-workers-union-win-sick-leave
A fraction of the paid sick days they were asking for, while also not meeting their other major demands at all. Ending Precision Scheduled Railroading was a big one. Still going on.
They stopped them from striking and potentially making greater gains, then tossed them some crumbs.
They should have stayed the hell out of it or used the government’s power to stop the rail companies not the strikers.
It’s wild to me that Biden broke the strike then got them the tiniest fucking concession afterwards and people think that’s an argument that he somehow was on the side of the union the whole time. Getting 4 sick days a year is absolutely nothing compared to the whole list of grievances and it’s embarrassing that people bring this up in response to him breaking the strike.
Huh. It’s really weird to read stuff like this. Just reminds me how lucky I am to not be in the US… with my legally mandated 10 days a year and all…
In Canada I currently have 346 hours of fully paid sick time available with 12 hours used. If I take over 5 days in a row I need to provide a doctor’s note. Taking a leave of absence for medical purposes is rarely questioned, same with going on disability. Outside of that I took 10 weeks of fully paid paternity leave, and we have a sabbatical program where you can take a reasonable pay cut for 3 years and take the 4th year off. Also have 4 weeks paid vacation and can take an additional 2 unpaid, with some other funny options available. Dental/medical appointments are a separate fully covered time code.
deleted by creator
People comment “don’t let good be the enemy of perfect” about this, as if what they got even approaches good. You see how low the bar is at least.
If he was a Republican he would have them all fired and nationally ban unions. So, there’s that.
Again, how is that even constitutionally legal?
What specifically are you referring to, being non-constitutional action? And, where in the constitution do you feel forbids the action?
I think I was refering to the fact that i thoght you’d be forced to work, (if the soundbyte of what happened is even true) it’s likely biden only banned protesting (witch is the real violation).
I failed to be reasonable because I didnt read the details of what he actually did
on a technical leveland posted while i was angry.Edit: wow, im not critical enough of my own ideas here, fixed that
And how did Biden ban protesting? I think maybe you should get your mind off of politics and out of whatever right wing qanon garbage you’re ingesting.
Where’s Lemmy gold when you need it?
Donating a couple bucks to a strike fund in my honor is better than Reddit gold could ever be
Link me to one and I’ll throw in a few bucks.
But anyway I never bought it, I only used the free coins they gave out.
That’s a great idea. “Lemmy Gold” should be a link to some community support fund for a good cause like this.
As a side note. It is so fucked up limited paid sick days are a thing
I just spent a week in the hospital. Used up all my sick time. Went back to work, still sick. How am I gonna pay the hospital bill otherwise?
And ignored the union’s other demands.
On one side I have seen where he’s continued negotiations with them to help them resolve issues without a strike which is pretty beneficial.
On the other hand, if that’s not as good as it looks, then this could show that he realized he fucked up not letting the rail workers strike. If he’s going this hard on other strikes and supporting unions it may be to garner support for re-election. Even if it’s only for his own gain, being heavily pro union is a win for the people.
Even if he’s doing it for the appearance, it’s good that union support is popular enough that politicians want to seem pro-union.
I mean, that’s basically the union working as intended. Together, we have the power to put fear in the powerful. Bosses or Biden, makes little difference.
These strikes don’t live in a vacuum. Inflation was much higher then, and supply chain transport constraints were a driving factor for it.
That was arguably some “Stop the Green Goblin or Save Gwen Stacy” shit.
It’s almost like we shouldn’t have the green goblin running all our trains
Yes, but then he got them the sick days anyhow after the fact.
I’m concerned that the second deal isn’t part of the contract, but, yeah. He fucked them in the name of national security; then walked back and got them the ask.
He got them a small number of the sick days they were demanding, and didn’t address any of their other concerns whatsoever such as ending Precision Scheduled Railroading.
He didn’t get all the days they asked for but that was part of the negotiation.
Considering that he didn’t shut down the American economy while at the brink of a recession and still negotiated the terms that both sides agreed on is a win for me.
“After taking away their ability to use their leverage and power, they agreed to the pittance they were offered. The overworked wage workers and the billionaire led rail conglomerates AGREED!”
🤡
Reading neoliberal apologia is vomit inducing
Fuck IBEW
How come?
Do you know what it stands for? Its some electrical workers, they always had the sick leave. They were on the railroad companies side from the beginning, agreeing to the shitty deal with zero sick days for rail workers, that the actual rail workers were going to strike against.
But democrats hoist them up to the podium as speaking for rail unions. It is always IBEW linked.
Pretending being thrown scraps after having their most powerful tool taking away from them is a win is a pretty good reason.
“Pro union only if I like the union, otherwise fuck them”
Collective bargaining of organized labor isn’t going to always pick the universally best option for everyone. Police unions should have made that glaringly obvious. If an electrical workers union agrees to a deal that benefits them but not others, it’s an incredibly shitty thing to do, but it’s still collective bargaining in action.
No, how collective bargaining works is if they dont get a deal that benefits enough people, they collectively strike. That was banned, collective bargaining was banned, and then after the fact these assholes are praising the move.
Average CLAC member
Classic T.H.U.N.K. quip from a C.L.A.N.G. member /s
You did get it wrong. It prevented a strike, but still got the workers what they wanted a few months later and without wrecking the economy.
Joe Biden was a big fan of working on muscle cars when he was younger (even though he also loved public transportation). I think he can definitely appreciate the skill it takes to build a car, so I’m glad he’s doing this.
Yes, he didn’t do the right thing with the rail workers union- and yes, I know things were negotiated afterward, but it was the wrong way to go about it- but let’s not let the perfect be the enemy of the good and acknowledge that he’s doing the right thing this time, which is better than taking the side of the auto companies like the Republicans are.
Yes, he didn’t do the right thing with the rail workers union- and yes, I know things were negotiated afterward, but it was the wrong way to go about it- but let’s not let the perfect be the enemy of the good…
The rail union is quite pleased with how things played out according to IBEW’s Railway Department Director Al Russo.
We’re thankful that the Biden administration played the long game on sick days and stuck with us for months after Congress imposed our updated national agreement,” Russo said. “Without making a big show of it, Joe Biden and members of his administration in the Transportation and Labor departments have been working continuously to get guaranteed paid sick days for all railroad workers.
…snip…
“Biden deserves a lot of the credit for achieving this goal for us,” Russo said. “He and his team continued to work behind the scenes to get all of rail labor a fair agreement for paid sick leave.”
He did do the right thing with the railway workers. The strike would likely have had a massive economic impact across the nation and in many different industries. Avoiding the strike while still getting the workers much of what they wanted was a very good result. Not perfect, but as you said, don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.
IBEW is only one of 13 rail unions, and according to another Lemmy user, their union officials are some of the more conservative ones, preferring lobbying Democrats over strikes and popular labor action. I wouldn’t go to their statement to see what rank-and-file union members preferred, as they tried to negotiate weaker deals in the beginning and have generally been going against what the majority of their workers would have preferred, according to what I’ve heard from online union members and from places like the Railroad Workers United (a coalition of rank-and-file members across all the rail unions). It also didn’t address Precision Scheduling or inadequate staffing or all sorts of other things they probably could have gotten if their leverage wasn’t removed by the President and Congress.
People need to learn what their labor is capable of and politicians interfering absorbs energy from the workers. People also need to stop thinking of themselves as consumers (oh no! My Christmas presents won’t arrive in time!), and think of themselves as workers in solidarity with all other wage workers.
I 100% agree with Flying Squid that it was the wrong way to go about it, but he’s doing better now.
acknowledge that he’s doing the right thing this time
Is he DOING anything that helps the UAW? Seems like the president should have more power than verbal support and marching.
What should he be doing that doesn’t exceed the powers granted to the President by the constitution?
He has sent aides to Michigan to help the UAW in negotiations. I’m not sure what more he can do.
TFW your country has been a 1/10 for labor for decades and then a president bumps it to a 2/10 and all the neolib outlets champion him as the most pro-union president in history… 🤮
I meant, it’s still true. Yes there is room to grow, but look, growth!
The bar is deep in the earth lol
I mean, it tracks. FDR broke federal employee unions. 2/10 is the most pro union we’ve seen.
It’s the lowest bar ever and he barely cleared it on his second try.
We have been ordered to rejoice.
Sounds like he doubled labour benefits. Beat that Europe!
But they DOUBLED their score!
I cannot tell you motivations, but all people who sit in biden’s chair are a slave to the status quo. If he wants to witj all his heart or hes a masochist. It doesnt matter, “you do your job, you get paid and dont ask questions.”
Why don’t you tell us where he is going in a useful headline as opposed to perpetuating click bait culture by using the headline from the website.
I would think this would be too dangerous for the Secret Service to give the okay on. I can only imagine the complexities involved in securing an area like that. On the other hand, I doubt any MAGA zealot would try to kill him, since that would give us our first black, female president.
Yhe because MAGA people are known for their good sense.
Nah, I’m pretty sure they believe if Biden is killed, RFK Jr or Sidney Powell will become President.
Biden playing 4d chess
deleted by creator
all the presidents go there every election time
they all throw some scraps out that represent what they claim to be standing for and usually the flashier guy wins
both guys work for the same team but have two different uniforms either red or blue with different letters on them but always d or r
works great for whoever they actually are representing
if anyone else has a different opinion we can chain them to a chair MURICA!
https://www.democracynow.org/2012/10/17/green_partys_jill_stein_cheri_honkala
The “most pro union president in history” made it illegal when rail workers were set to strike for better wages and conditions and safety.
-A leftist.
The sad part is that one severe fucking of a union don’t even come close to costing him the top spot. The bar is just so low.
My friend, next time look a little more into it than reading headlines.
That’s literally exactly what happened, are you denying that?
You must be a believer that half truths are good enough.
Are sure about that friend? Because in reality a economic nightmare of a railroad shutdown was avoided and with the help of the Biden Administration rail workers got what they’ve what they were trying to get for decades.
Kind of… He gave them a small part of what they asked for and didn’t touch the biggest stuff, like PSR. 4 days is better than 0, but still doesn’t cover the breadth of what they could’ve gotten if the strike had been allowed to continue and they were allowed to negotiate without interference.
I don’t know if I’d say it was small and they didn’t touch the biggest stuff – the companies and unions had actually come to an agreement in late Fall. The problem was the negotiators hadn’t actually understood their members’ priorities though. The deal gave like 1 sick day with several restrictions on usage, and significant salary increases over the next several years.
Union members pushed back, and said the PTO wasn’t enough. This is when Union leadership had come back extolling the medical benefits they had secured.
Sick days were a huge part of what the members wanted.
How about our current situation is an economic nightmare? But when workers attempt to use their leverage to shift it back to something actually the least bit ethical then you have a problem?
JFC neoliberals are so out of touch
No, the absolute fuck he didn’t.
-A leftist.
Liberal *
So did biden actually take actons to stop the strikes?
“i am a god, dont piss me off or ill fuck you up” situation.did biden have lies published about him?
completely loose control of his public imageLies or not, was the news ment to scare union members?
Because I and others have herd things with the message “biden attempts to stop the strike.”
Edit: calm down HelloHotel, dont be a jackass!
High comment.
I also believe they are stoned af
I fixed my comment, never post while angry
He had been negotiating on the unions’ side since the summer. They actually had a deal that everyone agreed to in late Fall, but the union negotiators made a mistake and didn’t understand their members priorities. There was like one sick day that had to be scheduled in advance on certain days, but they saw significant pay increases. That isn’t where the members had their priorities though.
…and continued to work on it afterward.
Kind of… He gave them a small part of what they asked for and didn’t touch the biggest stuff, like PSR. 4 days is better than 0, but still doesn’t cover the breadth of what they could’ve gotten if the strike had been allowed to continue and they were allowed to negotiate without interference.
“We’re very happy about this. We’ve been trying to get this for decades,” said Artie Maratea, president of the Transportation Communications Union. “It was public pressure and political pressure that got them to come to the table.”
From that article. I’m going to trust that opinion over yours
Both opinions are not incompatable with eachother, taken together paints a well-rounded picture.
deleted by creator
Stfu with your centralist bullshit
You’re supporting biden and then calling others “centralists” xD literally no self awareness
Removed by mod
Whataboutism. Definitely a low point of the Biden administration, but we’ll take what we can.
Pointing out past actions isn’t even close to “whataboutism”.
Yes it is, whataboutism is defined as when a leftist says something that a liberal doesn’t like. This is exactly that.
It is, especially when they don’t bring up everything he did afterwards to still help them out
You mean quietly getting them less than what they were fighting for after publicly undercutting their efforts against the companies?
Also, still not “whataboutism”. It’s literally pointing out what the same person did in the past regarding the same issue. Historical context is important and necessary to consider.
Whataboutism is literally bringing up other situations to either undercut or overlook a situation that happened. Biden is literally taking steps to further Union support, and people are saying “yeah well what about this time he wasn’t perfect”
Idk dawg, seems like text book whataboutism to me
Framing it as people whining about him “not being perfect” is utterly offbase. They are bringing up a pertinent act of his in a discussion about his position and standing regarding that very issue. If a person donated a lot of money to a charity, lets say animal shelters, but was also known to run a puppy mill, you would call it “whataboutism” to bring that up when people are excessively praising them for a one off donation?
Biden is literally taking steps to further Union support
He’s going for a photo op. If he starts advocating on behalf of workers rights and taking actual, meaningful action to facilitate change, then we can start being charitable with his past.
Removed by mod
Also, I like how you defend your whataboutism with a strawman fallacy. Keep up the good work.
Test
Biden is literally taking steps to further Union support
I dont dought he is, even if biden had a heart of gold (i dont really know) he is still bound by other forces that compete with compassion. These competing forces could be:
- hostility to workers disrupting power structures
- need for this to be low profile to protect his career
- need for this to look and feel resolved so nothing goes any further
Biden can and will fight for workers to shut up. the above make sense as motivations. Biden will get you as much as you will accept in sick time. The reason for him to fight is to make you feel like you got enough. The above and mabe kindness makes sense as a motivation for why.
Biden would be fighting more if Republicans weren’t literally trying to block his path every step of the way. Idgaf what you think you know, but Dark Brandon kicks ass and takes names. He’s working for the people. He may not be perfect, but who the fuck is.
You’re getting a photo op to try to convince people he cares, that he will forget about the second it’s no longer politically useful for him.
He doesn’t care, none of them do.
He’s been behind the most pro-union policies in decades, so enjoy it while it’s at its best in a long time.
You do realize there’s a pretty big difference to auto workers striking and the entire railway railway shutting down before Christmas, right? One would literally fuck the nation over and cause chaos.
My comment had nothing to do with the railroad. You know how this stuff works. There’s an election coming up, some advisor says this would be a good opportunity to win some union support, so he stops by and shakes his fist for a minute. He doesn’t give a shit.
You do realize you responded to a person who responded to a person talking about the rail strike, right? Your comprehension is shit.
My comment was in reply to the, “we’ll take what we can get,” comment. I’m saying all you’re getting is a photo op by someone running for reelection. Nothing more.
That doesn’t need the rail strike for additional context; it stands on its own. So your reasonings about the rail strike are irrelevant to the point I was making. My reading comprehension is just fine.
Maybe it is a photo op. Maybe you should shut the fuck up a be a bit happy.
Is it to bosnia?
