Biden Flip Flops on Unions vs Workers – What He “Supports” Now

The Biden administration’s push for guaranteed paid sick leave from major freight rail carriers reveals a stark contradiction in labor policies.

At a Glance

• Biden administration urges major freight rail carriers to provide paid sick leave
• Move follows controversial 2022 decision to block these benefits to prevent a rail strike
• 90% of Class I freight railroad employees now have paid sick days, up from 5% two years ago
• Critics question the administration’s true commitment to workers’ rights

Biden’s Labor Policy Flip-Flop

In a move that reeks of political opportunism, the Biden administration is now pushing for guaranteed paid sick leave from major freight rail carriers. This comes after the same administration controversially blocked these benefits in 2022 to avert a potential rail strike, leaving many workers frustrated and questioning the sincerity of Biden’s pro-labor stance.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su have sent letters to the CEOs of CSX Corp, Canadian National Railway Co., and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd., urging them to provide paid sick days to their workers. This sudden change in tune raises eyebrows about the administration’s true motives and timing.

The Numbers Game

While the administration touts progress, claiming that the share of Class I freight railroad employees with paid sick days has increased from 5% to 90% over the past two years, it conveniently glosses over its role in initially obstructing these benefits. The push to address the remaining 10% of employees without paid sick leave seems more like a political clean-up operation than a genuine concern for workers’ rights.

“While we applaud this success, it’s cold comfort for the 10% of railroaders who still do not have paid sick leave,” Buttigieg and Su said in their letters.

This statement rings hollow when considering the administration’s previous actions that left workers out in the cold. It’s a classic case of trying to have your cake and eat it too – appeasing big business one moment and pretending to champion workers’ rights the next.

The Real Cost of Political Maneuvering

The Biden administration’s flip-flopping on this issue has real consequences for hard working Americans. When the government imposed a contract deal in 2022 to prevent a potential strike, it effectively silenced workers’ voices and undermined their bargaining power. Now, with elections on the horizon, we see a convenient pivot back to pro-labor rhetoric.

A Pattern of Inconsistency

This isn’t the first time the Biden administration has shown inconsistency in its labor policies. From the mishandling of the East Palestine train derailment to pushing for electric vehicles at the expense of traditional auto industry jobs, there’s a clear pattern of prioritizing political optics over genuine worker welfare.

As conservatives, we must remain vigilant against these political games. While paid sick leave is important, the way this administration has handled the issue – first blocking it, then championing it – demonstrates a lack of principled leadership. It’s time for a consistent, pro-growth approach that benefits both businesses and workers without the need for government overreach and political flip-flopping.