Senate Votes 80-15 to Pass Bill Blocking Nationwide Railroad Strike
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President Biden says he will sign measure blocking a shutdown as soon as it gets to his desk.
The Senate voted to intervene to prevent a nationwide strike by railroad workers while rejecting a proposal to give them expanded paid sick leave, with lawmakers saying they reluctantly heeded President Biden’s call to resolve the long-running labor dispute.
In a 80-15 vote, with one senator voting present, lawmakers agreed to force unions to adopt an earlier labor agreement mediated by the administration. The measure now goes to the White House, and Mr. Biden said he would sign it as soon as it got to his desk.
The move is expected to end the standoff between Union Pacific Corp., CSX Corp. and other freight railroads and more than 115,000 workers. Under the Railway Labor Act, Congress can make both sides accept an agreement to prevent harm to the U.S. economy.
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