U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski today voted in favor of H.J. Res.100, to codify the tentative agreement brokered by the Biden administration between railroad carriers, union representatives, and officials in the Biden administration.
Its imposition will prevent a railway strike that would have cost the U.S. economy an estimated $2 billion per day, disrupted supply chains, harmed public health, and negatively impacted consumers and businesses—including in Alaska. H.J. Res.100 passed by a vote of 80-15-1.
Sen. Dan Sullivan and several other conservative senators, such as Sen. Mike Lee of Utah and Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, voted no. Sen. Rand Paul voted present.
The agreement provides for a range of new benefits, agreement provides for a 24 percent wage increase by 2024 with a 14.1 percent increase effective immediately and five $1,000 annual lump sum payments, resulting in $11,000 in immediate payments to employees; a 15 percent cap on health insurance premiums; an additional day of paid personal leave; three days of scheduled leave for medical exams and procedures; up to five weeks of paid vacation each year; and 14 paid holidays.
Provisions that are currently in effect and which will remain in place under the new contract, include providing either 26 weeks of paid sick leave at 60 percent wage replacement or 52 weeks of paid sick leave at 70 percent wage replacement, depending on the union, after four days of unpaid sick leave. The Agreement was ratified by eight of the 12 railway unions, while four unions voted no in an effort to include additional paid sick days in a final agreement.
“While it is unfortunate that Congress had to intervene in this matter, a rail strike would have had severe economic and public health consequences that could have harmed families and businesses just as we move into the holiday season,” Murkowski said. “Those consequences would have been felt in Alaska, as goods that are moved across the country by rail and then shipped to our state would have been stranded along the way. While the Tentative Agreement provides important benefits, including better wages, lower health care costs and more days off, I have great empathy for the rail workers and their efforts to negotiate paid sick leave. Ultimately, however, I recognize it is not Congress’ role to intervene in the details of labor negotiations. Doing so would set a bad precedent for other industries who are also negotiating contracts.”
In the House, Congresswoman Mary Peltola voted against the bill earlier this week because it did not give the unions enough. However, the resolution passed with an overwhelming majority.
On average, according to National Railway Labor Conference, a Class I rail employee covered in the current bargaining round makes about $130,000 in total annual compensation, and got 38% in raises between 2009 and 2019.
Why doesn’t Princess just change party affiliation?
Which one?
How many Begich voters voted for Murkowski?
They darn sure didn’t rank the red.
For the first time since 2020 Sullivan has actually done something conservat8ve
Hahahaha keeep voting deeemocrat, unions.
You get what you vote for
Amtrak Joe is what you wanted. There’s never been a bigger union buster than the democrats. I’m a member of two unions and this is garbage.
Railroad workers are by definition blue collar workers, no one should be surprised that the Democratic party has turned their back on them. Making $130,000 a year nowadays is solidly middleclass territory. If Republicans and conservatives turn their backs on the productive class who want to live a blue collar middleclass existence then please feel free to count me out as being a Republican or a conservative. Joe Biden and the Democrat party just spit in the face of working Americans…once again. And once again supposed Republican conservatives are rushing to lick at their heels, and miss a chance to pick up voters. Paying kids and incompetent adults an artificially absurd and inflated minimum wage to heat precooked food product…ok. Paying competent adults who provide an actual and tangible service…bad. The priorities of so many people are upside down.
Anyone who has paid any attention to inflation over the years knows that the government numbers are purely fabricated to make the economy seem like it’s doing better than it is actually performing.
We are screwed when we lick the heels of incompetent morons instead of railing against their blatantly obvious idiocy.
Murkowski: “Ultimately, however, I recognize it is not Congress’ role to intervene in the details of labor negotiations.”
Then she goes ahead and votes “Yes.” We all know why she voted the way that she did but I want to hear why Sullivan voted No.
Is it to make up for his (Dis)respect of Marriage vote?
LOL! What a trio we have! One votes yes because she thinks big government should rule us all. One votes no because he just might have realized that he recently pissed off the whole state. And the last one voted no because she doesn’t think the feds gave enough money away.
The New Alaska.
Yeah those two are the brightest Alaska has to offer lol. Clown show! We don’t vote these people in, the machines select them.
Great job Dan. YES to LGBT mafia, NO to a few sick days for hard working rail workers.
Keep up the good work.
Way to go Dan. Yes to the LGBT mafia. No to a few sick days for our railway workers. Making Alaska proud.
Keep up the good work ??
Lard and berries are served! What? No thank you? :*(
Last week Sullivan was a Biden tool. What changed?
A pretty safe vote for Dan.
Ryan, Sullivan voted conservative because Biden did not need his vote. If said vote was needed it would have been given.
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