It’s only 1 year ago Biden signed legislation forcing the railroad unions back to work with only 1 day of paid sick leave per worker per year. While as the author says it “One party is capable of rallying to labor’s side”, that feels very much like putting the bar on the ground.
https://www.ibew.org/media-center/Articles/23Daily/2306/230620_IBEWandPaid
I’m not trying to say Biden is a true ally to labor.
But he certainly has more substance to his efforts to attain that title than any Republican has for my entire life.
As gets posted everytime this comes up, the IBEW was in favor of signing the original contract proposed by the railroads. Their Biden back patting is disingenuous. Whatever he did after breaking the strike doesn’t absolve him of being a strike breaker all while calling himself the most pro union president ever.
He should’ve done more, but TBF he then raised it into seven in negotiations with the rail companies.
Four
Yes, Biden hitting the rail workers with a back-to-work order was a blow to labour, but I think it’s important to understand how much of what politicians does is symbolic, and, importantly, reactive.
The symbolism of Biden not just showing support for striking auto workers, but also working the picket line, is a MASSIVE. And it reflects the growing and persistent public support for striking workers in the US. He’s not sticking his neck out here, he’s trying to catch a wave in public sentiment, and his engagement has the potential to grow that wave even further.
That’s huge, and it speaks to some truly significant shifts in the labour movement.
It also makes “will you join the workers” a valid question to apply to every other politician from now on. Previously they could hide behind norms of neutrality to avoid the question, but now if they’re not going to visibly and publicly support strikers it can be reported on.
Showing up for a 12 minute photo op is not working the picket line.
