https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/11/28/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-averting-a-rail-shutdown/

  • Awoo [she/her]
    ·
    2 years ago

    Let me be clear: a rail shutdown would devastate our economy. Without freight rail, many U.S. industries would shut down. My economic advisors report that as many as 765,000 Americans – many union workers themselves – could be put out of work in the first two weeks alone. Communities could lose access to chemicals necessary to ensure clean drinking water. Farms and ranches across the country could be unable to feed their livestock.

    :sicko-hexbear:

    This should say to any union leader "we have them by the balls" but I have no idea whether this union is any good. If things got this bad in the first place my guess is they're shit and need some real radicals in charge.

    • Sphere [he/him, they/them]
      ·
      2 years ago

      Ah, but it's not one union, it's more than a dozen, and if any one of them goes on strike, the rest will do the same. So only one of these unions needs to be worth its salt.

      • Awoo [she/her]
        ·
        2 years ago

        I hope so, I hope they've looked at the support rail workers have had in the UK and understand that they WILL have support.

        With the way things are right now I'm convinced it would be extremely widespread support as well. People will not be like "ohhh but they're hurting meee" their response will be "yeah get em boys you deserve this" as soon as they hear the back breaking working hours 6 days a week.

        They can try their bullshit "but they're hurting 765,000 people" shit and nobody will buy into that in any way other than "well you better give them their demands then". I mean, the finance crowd will be like that but there is a real bubbling labour movement and widespread support is out there. The conditions are right.