WASHINGTON, Sept 25 (Reuters) - The Biden administration

on Wednesday called on three major freight railroads to

guarantee paid sick leave for all workers, saying 10,000

employees still do not have the benefit.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Acting Labor

Sectetary Julie Su wrote the CEOs of CSX, Canadian

National Railway ( CNI ) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City ( CP )

urging them to extend coverage. They noted that since

the end of 2022 the percentage of U.S. rail workers who are

guaranteed paid sick leave has risen from 5% to 90%. "Sick leave

for workers is not a luxury-it's a necessity," said Su.