The Washington Legislature has made several attempts over the years to provide rail workers with unpaid sick leave. Sen. Patty Kuderer (D-Bellevue) sponsored legislation to prohibit companies from disciplining workers for taking unpaid sick leave, among other provisions.
“It’s appalling that they’re the only classification of workers that don’t have access to sick leave,” said Kuderer, whose grandfather was a career rail worker. “Workers are being penalized and disciplined when they need to take leave.”
Kuderer plans to reintroduce her bill in 2023.
Rail companies could provide workers with sick days through contract bargaining. But, as the most recent contract fight illustrated, they remain unwilling to do so. Gillum, the
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