Seven paid sick days for railroad workers were rejected by the Senate.

A benefit that was excluded from a labor agreement between freight train businesses and unionized employees that was mediated by the Biden administration was the plan to provide railway workers seven days of sick leave, which was defeated by the Senate on Thursday.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and other leftist politicians pushed for legislation granting employees seven days of sick leave, but it failed to get enough Republican support to pass by the required 60 votes and was defeated 52-43.

Sens. Mike Braun of Indiana, Ted Cruz of Texas, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Josh Hawley of Missouri, John Kennedy of Louisiana, and Marco Rubio of Florida all supported the sick leave legislation (Fla.).

The sole Democrat to vote against the measure was Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.).

On Wednesday, it was narrowly approved by both parties in the House (221 to 207), with just three Republicans voting in favor.

The Senate agreed to prevent an expensive statewide rail strike next week after rejecting the sick leave proposal. The Biden administration mediated a labor deal between freight train companies and unionized employees, which was approved by the House by a vote of 80 to 15 in favor of the measure in the Senate.

Democrats may now point the finger at Republicans for forcing a labor agreement on train employees that offers limited latitude for taking time off for sickness or medical appointments as a result of the Senate and House votes.

“This is not a novel concept. It’s a fairly traditional notion. Additionally, it states that employees in the train sector are entitled to seven paid sick days. And before the vote, Sanders said, “I would expect that we would have strong support and the 60 votes that we need to approve this very, very critical amendment that is desired by every rail union.”

Another prominent liberal voice, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass. ), predicted that virtually every Democrat would vote in favor of the extended sick leave and that it was up to Republicans to decide whether it would be included in the labor agreement.

“I believe we will win over every Democrat. Whether any Republicans will join us is the issue, she said.

“The best course of action is to eliminate the need that individuals attempt to drive trains after suffering heart attacks or broken legs while still at work. However, we are now torn between causing the economy to collapse and persuading enough Republicans to join us in ensuring that enough Republicans have access to sick time, she said.

At the Senate Democratic lunch, according to Warren, there was “frustration” voiced over “this multibillion-dollar company that has generated money by the bucketful and continues to treat people like they are simply widgets to be moved about.”

Railroads encouraged Republican senators to vote against paid sick leave, claiming that legislative amendments to a contract would create a risky precedent.

“Any effort to put Congress’ thumb on the bargaining scale to artificially advantage either party or otherwise obstruct a swift resolution would be wholly irresponsible and risk a timely outcome to avoid significant economic harm,” Association of American Railroads CEO Ian Jefferies said in a statement. “Unless Congress wants to become the de facto endgame for future negotiations.”

Railroads have been under fire from progressive legislators and employees for refusing to provide paid sick days despite recent record earnings and growing shipping demand.

Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) has proposed delaying any future strikes for 60 days to allow railroad corporations and unions more time to come to an agreement. The idea was rejected by the Senate.

Numerous Republicans, including prominent moderate senator Susan Collins from Maine, backed the approach.

It would “send a signal to both parties that we want them to solve this issue and not have Congress get involved in imposing a solution that four of the 12 unions have rejected,” the speaker added, if the negotiators returned to the negotiating table.

The concept was promptly rejected by labor unions. They maintained that railways were uninterested in additional negotiations and pointed out that it would postpone pay rises for employees.

Sullivan’s proposal to create a 60-day cooling-off period was defeated by a vote of 25 in favor to 70 against. The Senate needs 60 yes votes to approve it.

A vote on another House-passed bill to execute the preliminary deal made between railroad businesses and unions with assistance from the Biden administration will take place if the legislation to provide railroad employees seven days of sick leave fails.

By 2024, earnings would climb by 24 percent, and over a five-year period, incentives would total $1,000 per year.

However, four of the twelve rail unions rejected it because it only included an extra personal day and did not offer any paid sick days.