Rail workers never stopped fighting for paid sick days. Now persistence is paying off

Paid sick leave became a central issue in the freight rail labor dispute last fall. Two months after Congress imposed a contract without sick leave, the topic has been reopened. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

It seemed like a done deal just two months ago.

Rail workers had brought the country to the brink of a nationwide rail shutdown over the fact that they didn't have paid sick leave - and wouldn't get any in the contract they were negotiating with their bosses, the massive freight railroad companies. But then, Congress stepped in to end the impasse. Strike averted.