Senate Approves Bill To Avoid Rail Strike During Holiday Season

By Melissa Quinn, Kathryn Watson, CBS Dallas/Fort Worth

December 1, 2022

The Senate on Thursday approved a measure that will impose a labor agreement for rail workers that was brokered by the Biden administration in September, averting a nationwide disruption of rail service ahead of the holiday season. The bill passed with bipartisan support, 80 to 15, with one senator voting "present."

The measure, which passed the House this week, now heads to the desk of President Biden, who urged Congress to intervene.

An amendment that would have added seven days of paid sick leave to the rail contract failed in a 52 to 43 vote. The Senate also voted down a GOP amendment for a 60-day cooling off period for union and rail negotiations.

Mr. Biden asked Congress to intervene after four of the 12 rail unions rejected the agreement between rail workers and operators. The Biden administration has been urging swift action, as workers threatened to strike if they failed to reach a labor agreement by Dec. 9. While some lawmakers, particularly Democrats who are typically pro-labor, have expressed hesitation about intervening, congressional leaders agreed on the need to avoid a rail strike that could deal a blow to the economy.

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