The US Congress imposes a branch agreement on railway workers to avoid an end-of-year strike

Amtrak, the main railway company in the United States.

AFP/Archivos

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

Thursday, December 1, the US Senate adopted by a very large majority – 80 to 15 – a text imposing a branch agreement negotiated and pre-approved in September, but which several power plants had not ultimately signed. 

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In the United States, a third of goods travel by rail.

The strike would have stopped 7,000 trains and cost nearly 2 billion euros per day, according to employers' organisations.

The forced passage brought together a large majority of Democrats and Republicans in Congress.

This vote "

", declared the American president, who also feared the political impact of a rail paralysis in a context of inflation and economic slowdown.

Joe Biden, a staunch supporter of the railways and who had promised to be the president most attentive to the unions, said he "

 " the joint negotiation and pledged to continue to work for certain favorable measures .

to employees, including sick leave.  

The branch agreement now allows employees to be absent for medical reasons without being penalized, but still without pay.

The left of the Democratic Party denounces the rejection of paid sick leave up to a maximum of seven days a year.  

The text, on the other hand, provides for a salary increase of 24% over five years, an exceptional bonus, as well as an additional day of annual leave.

Its adoption renders the planned strike illegal.

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