Moulton Statement on House Vote to Avert National Rail Strike

Washington, D.C.— Congressman Moulton issued the following statement about voting in favor of two bills that would avoid a national rail strike. 

"Today, I voted in support of two pieces of legislation designed to avert a national rail strike because, simply put, failure to do so would imperil our economy and cost the economy $2 billion a day.

The first bill ratifies the tentative agreement that was negotiated by the Labor Department, resulting in a 24% average pay raise for railway workers. However, I have said from the start that they deserve better treatment by their employers. That agreement did not adequately address the concerns of the rank and file members over their healthcare, and that is why I voted for a second bill that would ensure freight railroad workers have seven days of paid sick leave rather than the paltry one day in the original agreement.

Compromise always includes some degree of concession. This legislation avoids a catastrophic outcome for the economy. It also avoids the approximately 750,000 jobs that could be lost in the wake of a shutdown."

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