Los Angeles Times

Michael Hiltzik: Greedy railroads are to blame for rail strike threat. Why should Congress help them?

Freight rail cars sit in a rail yard on Nov. 22, 2022, in Wilmington, California.

The prevailing take on the looming national rail crisis is that a few recalcitrant railroad unions are poised go on strike Dec. 9, provoking an industrywide labor walkout that would inflict a "crippling" blow to the U.S. economy.

The quoted word comes from President Biden, who on Monday called on Congress to impose a contract on the workers and avert the strike.

His concern was echoed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, who indicated that her chamber is ready to do so. In the Senate, both Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, have expressed willingness to go along.

Since Biden is known as firmly pro-labor to an extent not seen in the White House in nine decades, and Pelosi's Democratic Party is generally favorable to organized labor, you might think

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