Senate Votes to Prevent Freight-Rail Strike, Defeats Sick-Leave Amendment

The Senate today passed a resolution from the House by a margin of 80-15 to adopt the tentative agreement that railroads and unions negotiated in September under the supervision of the White House. It will now go to President Biden for his signature.

In the absence of a deal, a nationwide freight-rail shutdown due to a strike or lockout would have been possible starting December 9. With passage of the resolution, the labor agreement based on the independent recommendations of the presidential emergency board, plus a few concessions on sick...