Kaptur Remarks after House Passage of Rail Labor Agreement, Paid Sick Leave ProvisionPress ReleaseJobs and the Economy

Washington, D.C.- Today, Representative Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) gave the following remarks on the House floor following passage of two bills, one that would codify a tentative agreement between railroads and railroad workers, and another that would amend the tentative agreement to provide railroad workers seven days of paid sick leave annually. Both bills will now be sent to the Senate for consideration.

"I rise today to stand full force behind the rail workers of our nation and those of my home state of Ohio," said Rep. Kaptur. "Rail workers deserve our thanks and respect for the backbreaking work they do 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"But rail chieftains and robber barons who are owned by giant Wall Street companies live high off the hog in salaries and stock awards from the sweat of railroad workers. Railroad companies operate like oligopolies, putting their selfish interests above our national interest. No raises for their workers in the last decade? No paid sick days?

"U.S. railroads have become way too big for their own britches. Last year, railroads earned a record $20 billion in profits, but they refused to allow their workers seven paid sick days? Really? Yes, greedy and uncaring. How many paid sick days and vacation days do the rail barons siphon off from the workers?

"Owned by faceless absentee Wall Street funds, U.S. railroads have become a national illness. They treat with equal disdain their workers and the communities that must endure their rude behavior and neglect of rail installations. Shame on them.

"Stand with America's rail workers that join our nation from coast to coast and haul over 40 percent of the goods we move in this nation."

###

For more information, contact Chris Dalton at [email protected].