The U.S. Senate has given the ‘green light’ Thursday to a bill that forces railroad companies and railroad workers to accept an agreement to avoid a widespread strike that would damage the U.S. economy.
The text, which was already approved in the House of Representatives on Wednesday with 290 votes in favor against 137 against, has had the support of 80 senators against 15 who have rejected it, according to CNN.
Shortly after its approval by Congress, the President of the United States, Joe Biden, thanked all those who supported the bill «to avoid the closing of trains», as reported by the White House in a statement.
«Decisive action by Congress ensures that we will avoid imminent and devastating economic consequences for workers, families and communities across the country,» he has said, adding that he will sign the text «as soon as Congress» sends it to his desk.
Biden has highlighted that the agreement «will increase workers’ wages by 24 percent,» as well as health care, among others. He also added that his fight for paid sick days in the sector «continues».
«This week’s bipartisan action pulls our economy back from the brink of a devastating shutdown that would have hurt millions of families and union workers in countless industries,» he said.
Unions had threatened to strike if an agreement for the industry was not reached by December 1. This text provides for seven days of paid sick leave instead of one, which was the main disagreement of the various unions representing railroad workers.
