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WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) today voted in the House to pass H.J. Res. 100 and H. Con. Res. 119, which would avoid a railroad shutdown and add seven days of paid sick leave to the Tentative Agreement for railroad workers.

“Railroad workers are the backbone of our nation’s economy,” Congressman Tonko said. “Like all Americans, they deserve more than just one day of paid sick leave, and today, I voted with my colleagues in the House to grant them that basic, dignified request. To be clear, Congress was moved to act because of the remorseless greed of railroad companies. These multi-billion dollar companies thwarted good faith negotiations with union rail workers to hold our economy hostage under the threat of a rail shutdown all to deny their employees the ability to take off of work when they are sick. Today we stood with hard-working railroaders to ensure they have sick leave, fairer wages, and improved benefits and working conditions. I hope the Senate moves this critical legislation forward and sends it to the President’s desk at once.”

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