The Senate on Thursday voted to impose a labor agreement on railway unions as workers threatened a strike that could damage the economy.
In an 80 to 15 vote, with Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) voting “present,” the upper chamber backed a tentative agreement negotiated by the Biden administration that grants 24% pay increases, bonuses, and safety provisions. The measure now heads to President Joe Biden’s desk.
The legislation prevents a freight shutdown that the railroads say would cost the United States an estimated $2 billion per day. But the contract only granted workers one day of paid sick leave.
Following pushback from progressive lawmakers, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) added a separate vote that would give rail workers seven days of leave. The House passed both the labor agreement and additional sick days on Wednesday, but the paid leave only passed narrowly, with three Republicans voting for it.
HOUSE VOTES TO AVERT RAIL STRIKE, SENDING LEGISLATION TO SENATE
The Senate ultimately rejected the sick leave provision, which garnered support from six Republicans but fell short of the 60 votes needed to pass. The vote on paid leave followed consideration of whether to impose a two-month cool-off period, a measure that failed 26 to 69.
Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who negotiated the tentative agreement between the railroads and labor unions, met with Democratic senators on Thursday to huddle ahead of the votes.
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Senate passage of the agreement puts the country one step closer to avoiding a rail strike on Dec. 9. Since the House approved the agreement separate from the paid sick leave provision, passage of the labor contract did not depend on whether senators voted for the House-passed paid leave.
Biden, who said he would sign the legislation, thanked Congress for moving quickly to avert the rail strike. He defended the agreement as necessary despite it falling short of what labor unions demanded.
“Congress’ decisive action ensures that we will avoid the impending, devastating economic consequences for workers, families, and communities across the country. Communities will maintain access to clean drinking water. Farmers and ranchers will continue to be able to bring food to market and feed their livestock. And hundreds of thousands of Americans in a number of industries will keep their jobs,” he said in a statement.
“Working together, we have spared this country a Christmas catastrophe in our grocery stores, in our workplaces, and in our communities,” he added.
