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Governmental Overreach Which Side Are You On, DC? (compactmag.com)

As it turns out, the rail workers had good reason to threaten a strike. Right now in the United States, rail workers aren’t guaranteed paid sick days. They must use vacation time for any illness, and here’s the best part: They must request that vacation time in advance. Of course, as anyone who has been sick knows, it’s nearly impossible to forecast an illness before it happens. That’s how the current standoff started: Railway workers wanted sufficient paid leave to cover illnesses, and the big companies didn’t want to provide them, despite the fact the rail companies are more profitable than ever. How have they gotten so profitable in just the last few years? By cutting the number of rail jobs and working laborers harder.

> As it turns out, the rail workers had good reason to threaten a strike. Right now in the United States, rail workers aren’t guaranteed paid sick days. They must use vacation time for any illness, and here’s the best part: They must request that vacation time in advance. Of course, as anyone who has been sick knows, it’s nearly impossible to forecast an illness before it happens. That’s how the current standoff started: Railway workers wanted sufficient paid leave to cover illnesses, and the big companies didn’t want to provide them, despite the fact the rail companies are more profitable than ever. How have they gotten so profitable in just the last few years? By cutting the number of rail jobs and working laborers harder.

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[–] • 1 pt

Interesting take on why this is such a sticking point for companies.

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/11/rail-strike-why-the-railroads-wont-give-in-on-paid-leave-psr-precision-scheduled-railroading.html

But boohoo. If your business model doesn't allow you to treat your workers as human beings then maybe the business model should be changed.

[–] • 1 pt

Great article. Of course, Congress is going to insert themselves wherever they can increase their own power, regardless of the downstream impacts.

[–] • 1 pt

That is what they do best!

I went on glassdoor and BNSF states workers get 3 weeks of PTO after a year. I find that amount to be acceptable. Many companies don't breakout sick vs vacation days anymore, it is all one pool. The problem stated is that vacation requests are usually denied. The idea that you'd have to schedule a vacation day in advance for a sick day is obviously ridiculous too.

Now I have no experience working with a railway, but I do have experience managing complex systems where human labor is needed. My solution would be to explore creating on call positions. Pay them a higher base rate but the trade off is you're only guaranteed 30 hours a week and you have to show up when called up to 50 hours a week. idk, just brainstorming a bit. It seems there has to be a solution out there. Other than the government getting involved and fucking everything up worse.

[–] • 1 pt

Perhaps there's a future for you in labor negotiations!