Railroad unions and their allies ramped up calls this week urging the Class I railroads to adopt sick leave policies for rank-and-file employees, culminating with Sen. Bernie Sanders warning that railroad heads could come to Washington and face a Senate hearing on the issue.
The calls come as eastern U.S. railroad CSX (NASDAQ: CSX) said this week that it is offering sick leave to maintenance-of-way workers and workers who inspect and repair rail cars, known as carmen. Union leaders also said they were rallying around the 30th anniversary of the Family Medical Leave Act.