Obama order forces Philly rail workers back on job
Source: Houston Chronicle
http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Strike-forces-Philly-commuters-to-find-new-ride-5552125.php
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PHILADELPHIA (AP) President Barack Obama on Saturday forced union workers in Philadelphia's commuter rail strike to return to the job, granting Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett's request to create a presidential emergency board to mediate the contract dispute.
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Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Strike-forces-Philly-commuters-to-find-new-ride-5552125.php
yeoman6987
(14,449 posts)Speechless.
newthinking
(3,982 posts)At first my jaw was open too. But it not what it reads like.
former9thward
(32,111 posts)Not the union. So are you saying the R governor is on the union side? People here try to whitewash so many things.
drm604
(16,230 posts)This will force mediation. Striking is still a tool that can be used in the future.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/obama-intervenes-philadelphia-rail-strike-article-1.1830233
We have been five years without an agreement, trying to get to this point and were happy were here now, he said. Gallagher said employees will be notified to report to their next scheduled shifts.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)DJ13
(23,671 posts)signed an order against the union?
RufusTFirefly
(8,812 posts)Sigh. Can't say he didn't warn us:
"But perhaps even more important than any single accomplishment was the sense of confidence and optimism President Reagan never failed to communicate to the American people. It was a spirit that transcended the most heated political arguments, and one that called each of us to believe that tomorrow will be better than today. At a time when our nation was going through an extremely difficult period, with economic hardship at home and very real threats beyond our borders, it was this positive outlook, this sense of pride, that the American people needed more than anything.
"When the future looked darkest and the way ahead seemed uncertain, President Reagan understood both the hardships we faced and the hopes we held for the future. He understood that it is always "Morning in America." That was his gift, and we remain forever grateful." -- Barack Obama
I hope he had a little Reagan-like twinkle in his eye when he was breaking the strike.
bluestateguy
(44,173 posts)msanthrope
(37,549 posts)You should have read the link.
created a presidential emergency board to mediate the contract dispute, which is a very common way for railroad labor disputes to be handled.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railway_Labor_Act
Iliyah
(25,111 posts)Thanks
elleng
(131,253 posts)L0oniX
(31,493 posts)krawhitham
(4,650 posts)Terry Gallagher, president and local chairman of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, said the presidential intervention was "what we were waiting for."
"We have been five years without an agreement, trying to get to this point and we're happy we're here now," he said. Gallagher said employees will be notified to report to their next scheduled shifts.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)You really should have read the link.
L0oniX
(31,493 posts)msanthrope
(37,549 posts)to do what he did.
Read the article.
edgineered
(2,101 posts)I ALWAYS register and vote in the (R) primaries. Of course I also ALWAYS come back home. So, in all, who am I to say that PBO isn't just pretending to be on the wrong side of the fence?
edit: sarcasm!!
JEFF9K
(1,935 posts)The working poor depend on them to not strike. Otherwise the working poor become the unworking poor.
elleng
(131,253 posts)And it is VERY common for presidents to invoke this process, send the matters to arbitration after parties have been unable to resolve them.
RufusTFirefly
(8,812 posts)The 2005 New York City transit strike, for example:
I've always admired New Yorkers for understanding that strikes are fundamentally about fair treatment for all workers. Reagan understood this, too. That's why he busted the air traffic controllers union.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)ForgoTheConsequence
(4,869 posts)When our guy does it.
elleng
(131,253 posts)this is using a formal legal process to help the parties to a significant public dispute arrive at an agreement.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railway_Labor_Act
drm604
(16,230 posts)I ride the Philly regional rail to work every day. Fortunately, right where I live there is alternative though slightly less convenient public transit that I could use, the Norristown High Speed Line with a transfer to the subway at 69th street (the NHSL and subways are a different union from the regional rail). It would be a nightmare because of the crowding from all of the extra people, but I could commute. I also have the option of working from home, although I don't think my employer would like me to do so for an extended period. (I could drive, but I don't want to even think of that nightmare with all of the 10s of thousands of extra people on the highway.)
I only say all that as a disclaimer, that I personally would be inconvenienced but that's all it would be for me and I could put up with it if necessary. However, there are other workers in other areas outside of the city that wouldn't have the NHSL as an alternative. Some of those could drive (adding to the congestion) but those that can't could be out of luck. And few of the lower wage workers have the option of working from home.
The point being that if we care about workers then... we should care about workers. Not just some, but all. Mediation is what's needed here.
Historic NY
(37,457 posts)but please go ahead with disinformation.
elleng
(131,253 posts)msanthrope
(37,549 posts)when it's not true.
Read the article.
a kennedy
(29,740 posts)msanthrope
(37,549 posts)madfloridian
(88,117 posts)All over again.
elleng
(131,253 posts)msanthrope
(37,549 posts)Read the whole article especially the part where the Union wanted this to go to mediation.
Fearless
(18,421 posts)JohnnyRingo
(18,672 posts)I've been an ardent supporter, even defending him against the NSA crowd of concern, but I'm a lifelong union member having retired under the UAW. I won't take a Reagan position on labor well.
I take a lot of namby pamby shit from democrats that I don't like, but I expect them to always be the party for organized labor. It's the least they can do.
Nobody better get fired or we'll send some goons around. (LOL)
drm604
(16,230 posts)This is mediation, not union busting.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/obama-intervenes-philadelphia-rail-strike-article-1.1830233
We have been five years without an agreement, trying to get to this point and were happy were here now, he said. Gallagher said employees will be notified to report to their next scheduled shifts.
JohnnyRingo
(18,672 posts)...I see that the company refused to negotiate. Sometimes a move like this will prompt them back to the table, or at least now they'll have to explain to the president why they think they don't have to. The local can return to work on the condition negotiations resume and still hold the walkout in reserve. It's important to the union that the company knows the workers are united and will walk together. That's a big chip at the bargaining table.
Nobody wants to strike, but it's an important arrow in the quiver, but actually, I enjoyed a great strike back in the eighties. We walked off on a Thursday night and the company inked a deal on Sunday. I got to get high and drink beer around a burn barrel that Saturday night with an inspiring feeling of brotherhood. I think it was a warm night in early September. (hahaha) I still have the sign on the side of the refrigerator
cstanleytech
(26,342 posts)as it clearly explains the head of the union wanted the president to get involved.
"Terry Gallagher, president and local chairman of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, said the presidential intervention was "what we were waiting for."
"We have been five years without an agreement, trying to get to this point and we're happy we're here now," he said. Gallagher said employees will be notified to report to their next scheduled shifts."
JohnnyRingo
(18,672 posts)You can read my contrite reply above after I read the piece.
At least I got to threaten the deployment of union goons. It's been years.
Iliyah
(25,111 posts)go against the norm and make sure its heard.
senseandsensibility
(17,192 posts)Last edited Sun Jun 15, 2014, 10:02 AM - Edit history (1)
after learning more about this. I hope it works out for the workers.
IronGate
(2,186 posts)This is exactly what the Union wanted. Now it goes to mediation.
Please read the article before commenting next time.
alp227
(32,068 posts)Iliyah
(25,111 posts)with lawsuits and the other side appears to be winning. Kill worker's voices, corporations wins. First the corporations must divide which apparently they are doing.
Lets try and stand together. Go vote.
madfloridian
(88,117 posts)And Arne cheered the CA decision this week. An ed secretary that doesn't stand with public school teachers. Imagine that.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)msanthrope
(37,549 posts)blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)msanthrope
(37,549 posts)BumRushDaShow
(129,793 posts)The usual bullshit from the usual suspects.
These unions have been working with federal mediators for the past 4 years and management has refused to budge and agree to binding arbitration. By striking, BLET & IBEU forced Septa's hand prompting Corbutt's begging for Presidential intervention, which will hopefully FINALLY lead to Septa management having no choice but to accept binding arbitration to settle.
The knee-jerk anti-Obama faux liberals on DU are tiresome, since they swarm around waiting to shoot first (without reading), leading to purported "criticism" that is nothing more than nonsensical verbal vomit.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)BumRushDaShow
(129,793 posts)msanthrope
(37,549 posts)shown their erudite commentary without reading the article.
BumRushDaShow
(129,793 posts)and have been following this for some time, the out from left field nonsense about "PATCO" and "walking shoes" and God forbid, Arne Duncan, just underscores not only the lack of critical thinking, but the lack of any thinking at all in an attempt to continue to promote a ridiculous nefarious agenda.
As a on-topic side note - the fact that after decades, a Transportation funding bill was signed into law in PA that FINALLY provided Septa with dedicated funding from the state (supplementing the tens of millions provided by the city & any from the feds + the amount from fares), meant that the whole negotiating environment changed. Yet Septa management glossed over this. So this was the perfect strategic move to force the issue and underscore that "economic issues" could no longer be used as an excuse to screw the workers.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)their posts should be scrutinized, and not given credence until then.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Historic NY
(37,457 posts)very least the history of labor managment.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)What a relief to read your responses here in the middle of another sadly predictable pile on.
NYC Liberal
(20,138 posts)This is exactly what the unions were asking for.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,924 posts)So of course it's all "OMG, Obama screwed the union!" Except that he didn't. This is what the union wanted because it forces mediation. Labor disputes under the RLA are not handled the same as the way as most other ones. There are specific procedural requirements, such as mediation, that have to be satisfied; the union can't strike unless mediation fails.
Read the article before jerking your knees, please.
polynomial
(750 posts)Something is happening
The Federal Railroad Administration, The FRA is investigating the Chicago Metra transit line which is operated by the Union Pacific Railroad, the east west lines that go to the western suburbs are under investigation. The news the other day said it will be a forty five day investigation.
More, over what should be interesting is an OSHA investigation also at the same Chicago Service Unit is being charged in falsifying safety briefing documentation and allegations in ditching injury report.
The Harriman culture is alive and well, the famous Union Pacific railroad financier once funded the Nazi party the same time with Bush working for them, do a wiki, in the thirties. So its no surprise these railroad management teams run the crews like a Texas cattle drive.