Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was on vacation in Portugal during pivotal talks with railway workers earlier this year to avoid a railway strike that would have cost the United States billions of dollars, according to multiple reports.
Buttigieg was on vacation from Aug. 29 to Sept. 5, the Department of Transportation told the Daily Mail, on a vacation in Porto that was planned far in advance of the railway talks. The secretary still helped orchestrate the negotiations virtually, despite his vacation, the department said.
PETE BUTTIGIEG FLIES FREQUENTLY ON TAXPAYER-FUNDED PRIVATE JET: REPORT
“As usual, while traveling on personal time he remained available and engaged on urgent issues, which in this case meant multiple calls with staff and stakeholders to work on the topic of rail labor negotiations,” a department spokesperson said. “Overall, the Secretary’s work toward helping successfully prevent a rail shutdown included dozens of calls and meetings between April and December.”
Railway workers were threatening to strike this summer over a disagreement concerning paid sick leave, safety concerns, a wage increase, and bonuses. The danger of the strike prompted Amtrak to cancel longer trips across the country in preparation. However, a tentative agreement was reached the week after Buttigieg’s return.
Conservative lawmakers ridiculed Buttigieg for the vacation, claiming he forced the railway workers to go without paid sick leave while the secretary was enjoying himself in Europe.
“Rail workers just wanted a few days of paid sick leave,” Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) tweeted. “President Biden told them to pound sand and his Transportation Secretary vacationed in wine country. Democrats are no longer the party of the working class.”
Rail workers just wanted a few days of paid sick leave. President Biden told them to pound sand and his Transportation Secretary vacationed in wine country.
Democrats are no longer the party of the working class.https://t.co/9bGn26xmqR
— Senator Rubio Press (@SenRubioPress) December 15, 2022
A final deal was reached earlier this month after Congress forced labor unions to sign the agreement, which included a 24% pay increase, bonuses, and the safety provisions. A separate provision that would guarantee seven days of paid sick leave failed to pass the Senate. The final deal included one personal day.
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President Joe Biden signed the legislation a day later, avoiding a strike that would have cost the U.S. economy approximately $2 billion a day and disrupted the supply chain during the Christmas holiday season.
