this post was submitted on 27 Aug 2024
553 points (99.5% liked)

Work Reform

9963 readers
182 users here now

A place to discuss positive changes that can make work more equitable, and to vent about current practices. We are NOT against work; we just want the fruits of our labor to be recognized better.

Our Philosophies:

Our Goals

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] verdantbanana@lemmy.world 67 points 2 months ago (3 children)

the US has not had a proworker president in a long time

[–] MiltownClowns@lemmy.world 27 points 2 months ago (2 children)

what do you mean? biden walked the picket line! sure he broke the rail strike, but he was there when it didnt count!

[–] curbstickle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 28 points 2 months ago (5 children)

An got the rail workers a 14% immediate pay raise, an additional 25% over 5 years, a PTO day, and in the followup as he promised, an additional 4 sicks days and 3 convertible.

[–] MiltownClowns@lemmy.world 18 points 2 months ago (1 children)

He subverted the will of the union using the might of the government. It doesnt matter what happened after that, as a union man that is the definition of anti worker.

[–] curbstickle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I agree, but leaving it out is still lying about what actually happened.

[–] Madison420@lemmy.world 10 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It's not lying at all, omission is only a lie if it's misleading or nefarious, this is neither.

[–] curbstickle@lemmy.dbzer0.com -1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

You can certainly make that call for yourself. I disagree.

[–] Madison420@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I mean it's a fact.... You didn't add context you added an excuse. "Oh it's not as bad because x"

[–] curbstickle@lemmy.dbzer0.com -3 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] Madison420@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

And can't defend your actions either. -10 for childish bullshit.

[–] MiltownClowns@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago (2 children)

How so? He broke a strike. I said he broke a strike. It can't much more factual then that.

[–] prettybunnys@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] MiltownClowns@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Context for a joke? Do you expect context in a Colbert monologue? I'm not sure if that makes it funnier. My point is factually correct. Its a joke, not a new york times article.

[–] curbstickle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] MiltownClowns@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

I was genuinely curious about your view point. If you lack the convictions to defend your characterization of my statement, and me personally by proxy, then maybe you shouldn't be calling me a liar with such authority.

[–] curbstickle@lemmy.dbzer0.com -4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

You could read the many, many other comments in the same thread.

[–] MiltownClowns@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

You directly called me a liar and I directly asked why. This is weasle behavior. Do better.

[–] curbstickle@lemmy.dbzer0.com -3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I have explained it numerous times already, why repeat myself?

[–] MiltownClowns@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I asked you a direct question and in response you called me a liar. You impugned my integrity and I asked you to defend it. You telling me to go through your comment history is insufficient after you impugned my integrity. If you want anybody to respect your position, you need to respect other people. Otherwise, you're just being a dick on the internet. You're not getting anything done. You're not changing anybody's minds. You're just being an asshole.

[–] curbstickle@lemmy.dbzer0.com -2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Not the words I used actually.

And as mentioned, already answered repeatedly. Enjoy your day.

[–] MiltownClowns@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Didn't realize you were just a fucking idiot. Sorry for wasting your time. I know you got a lot more work than the average person just to get through the day.

[–] curbstickle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Dude, I'm not interested in the internet pissing match where you try and "gotcha". I've repeatedly explained my position, why I believe that, and why the context is important.

As I said. Enjoy your day, we are done.

[–] MiltownClowns@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

If you dont want a pissing match then stop pissing on people. You're the worst.

[–] verdantbanana@lemmy.world 8 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

after threatening them with their livelihoods and retirement yes, he gave them a small amount of what they were demanding

not a victory and he is not a champion of worker's rights

Presidential Emergency Board

In July 2022, a Presidential Emergency Board was convened under the Railway Labor Act by President Joe Biden.[11] His Executive order stated, "I have been notified by the National Mediation Board that in its judgment these disputes threaten substantially to interrupt interstate commerce to a degree that would deprive a section of the country of essential transportation service."[12]

The board issued a report on August 16, starting a 30-day cooling off period that prevents any strikes or lockouts.[6] Reuters reported that the board proposed "annual wage increases of between 4% and 7% through 2024" in addition to retroactive pay increases, one extra paid day off and five $1,000 annual bonuses.[13]

By the end of August, three unions representing about 15,000 workers agreed to the recommendations made by the board.[14][15]

On September 14, near the end of the cooling off period, Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh hosted negotiations at the Department of Labor between the railroad companies, and unions in an attempt to prevent a strike.[16] The Washington Post reported that Biden was "personally involved in the talks", wanting workers to have more flexibility in scheduling.[2]

Early on September 15, Biden announced a deal had been reached to prevent a strike, including an immediate 14% wage increase, but only one day of paid leave per year rather than the 15 days of paid sick leave unions wanted.[2][17] The deal still needed to be ratified by rank-and-file members of the unions, however no strike could take place for several weeks regardless of the outcomes of ratification votes.[2]

Congressional intervention

In September 2022, U.S. Senators Richard Burr and Roger Wicker introduced a bill that would have required labor unions to agree to the terms proposed by the Presidential Emergency Board, to prevent a strike.[18] It was blocked by Senator Bernie Sanders, who noted that freight rail workers receive a "grand total of zero sick days" while railroad companies made significant profits.[19] In the House of Representatives, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, "We’d rather see negotiations prevail so there’s no need for any actions from Congress."[16]

In late November, after some unions had rejected the agreement, Biden asked Congress to pass the agreement into law. On November 30, the House of Representatives passed the existing tentative agreement along with an amended version that would require railroad employers to ensure 7 days paid sick leave.[20] On December 1, the Senate passed the tentative agreement with only 1 day of sick leave.[21] President Joe Biden signed the legislation into law on December 2.[4] The Biden administration's intervention in the dispute was condemned by over 500 labor historians in an open letter to Joe Biden and Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh.[22]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_United_States_railroad_labor_dispute

[–] curbstickle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 19 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

I didn't call him a champion of workers rights.

I corrected the misinformation by exclusion suggested by the statement.

Edit: And for the record, the followup was in February 2023. Which was after the part you posted from the Wikipedia entry, which kind of matches the whole... Misinformation by exclusion part I've been commenting on.

Please don't do that.

[–] Sunforged@lemmy.ml 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Biden only picked up that ball after the East Palestine disaster vindicated all the reasons the union wanted to strike in the first place. It was a PR move because he had blood on his hands.

For comparison a single socialist city council member in Seattle pushed and won the for 12 days of sick leave for the entire city back in 2012. 4 days is bread crumbs. They would have gotten a much better deal had they just been left alone to strike and negotiate.

[–] curbstickle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

And does any of that impact the ability to tell the whole truth, rather than partial?

When you exclude important details, you're doing your argument a disservice through misinformation. This has nothing to do with my opinion on Biden, which is not a positive one, but my opinion on intentionally leaving out important details. Which, to me, is no better than just flat out lying.

[–] verdantbanana@lemmy.world -2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

to clarify yes did cherry pick paragraphs

my goal was to not have a screen's worth of text unless people desired it hence the links

did not personally feel it interfered with the facts as of today's date since Biden's career has on the whole been center right in his politics especially with worker's rights

but will in the future take more heed of the dates involved

[–] curbstickle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 2 months ago

IMO, at best its misleading. LOTS of straight up copied text from Wikipedia (just link to the section), making it appear as if there wasn't anything else after that.

Just because he followed up on his promise doesn't make him progressive, but ignoring it entirely is just playing games to play pretend that he did nothing but force an outcome.

To me, that's just as bad as saying Trump is pro-labor because he said so one time, and ignoring all the other crap he did. Such as restricting the ability for union reps to advocate (federal workers), revoking a DOE contract (and their rights and protections stripped), putting union busting lawyers on the NLRB, opposing federal minimum wage increase, and I'm going to stop because he's so damn depressing.

[–] BradleyUffner@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

And set the power of unions back decades by breaking the strike too!

[–] kiljoy@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

A PTO day lmao. And you wonder why people are pissed he broke up the strike.

[–] curbstickle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I'm not remotely surprised, and I didn't support him pushing to stop the strike either.

That doesn't mean I think its OK to leave out what he did do to exagerrate a position.

[–] roofuskit@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Do you know why they were striking? Low staffing levels leading to long hours, overworked staff, and building safety concerns as a result.

[–] curbstickle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 months ago

What part of my comment makes it appear as if I wasn't aware?

[–] kiljoy@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

He still broke the strike subverting the will of the workers. That is a slap in the face and undercuts the pto day they get a year.

[–] curbstickle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 months ago

He did.

As well as get a pay raise, a guarantee of additional raises, PTO, additional sick days, and convertible days.

Pretending nothing was done undercuts the issue, and spreads misinformation about what actually happened.

[–] chiliedogg@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago

25% over 5 years works out to 4.5% a year, and he "won" that during 8% inflation.

In reality they're getting a pay cut.

[–] Angry_Autist@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

So fucking tired of every top comment in a serious thread being sarcastic

SO fucking tired

[–] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, the last time was Carter. The Clintons basically broke the alliance between the national level Dems and labor unions and they've been adversaries most of the time since.

[–] Fredselfish@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago

According to video I watch it was under Cater they truck driving union was taken out and deregulated the industry. Fucking over truck drivers. So no not even Cater was pro worker.

[–] Angry_Autist@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

people cannot pay as much as corporations, this will continue till we get money out of politics.

All candidates that qualify should get a flat grant from the government for their campaign, every candidate gets the same amount.

NO private donations

NO corporate donations

NO Super PACs

none of this bullshit.

But it won't ever happen because we are too busy fighting with each other to even agree to point at the owner class as the problem.

[–] Anticorp@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

ut it won't ever happen because we are too busy fighting with each other to even agree to point at the owner class as the problem.

As is intended.