House Approves, Imposing Deal on Unions , to Avoid Rail Strike.<br />On November 30, the United States House voted to head off <br />a nationwide rail strike, approving legislation that forces <br />unions to accept a disputed deal reached in September.<br />Associated Press reports that the bill will <br />now head to the Senate for approval before <br />President Biden can sign off on it.<br />Associated Press reports that the bill will <br />now head to the Senate for approval before <br />President Biden can sign off on it.<br />Without the certainty of a final vote to avoid <br />a shutdown this week, railroads will begin <br />to halt the movement of critical materials <br />like chemicals to clean our drinking <br />water as soon as this weekend, Joe Biden, President of the United States, via Associated Press.<br />Let me say that again: without action <br />this week, disruptions to our auto supply <br />chains, our ability to move food to tables, <br />and our ability to remove hazardous <br />waste from gasoline refineries will begin, Joe Biden, President of the United States, via Associated Press.<br />According to business groups, including the U.S. <br />Chamber of Commerce, every day that rail service was <br />halted would deliver a $2 billion blow to the economy. .<br />The legislation imposes a deal <br />that was voted down by <br />four of the 12 rail unions. .<br />Politically powerful labor unions have criticized <br />Biden and Democratic leaders' support for intervening <br />in a contract dispute and blocking a strike. .<br />Politically powerful labor unions have criticized <br />Biden and Democratic leaders' support for intervening <br />in a contract dispute and blocking a strike. .<br />In response to the concerns of the rail unions, House <br />Speaker Nancy Pelosi added a second vote to offer seven <br />days of paid sick leave per year for union rail workers.<br />In response to the concerns of the rail unions, House <br />Speaker Nancy Pelosi added a second vote to offer seven <br />days of paid sick leave per year for union rail workers.<br />Quite frankly, the fact that paid leave <br />is not part of the final agreement between <br />railroads and labor is, in my opinion, obscene, Jim McGovern, Democratic House Representative <br />for Massachusetts, via Associated Press.<br />Quite frankly, the fact that paid leave <br />is not part of the final agreement between <br />railroads and labor is, in my opinion, obscene, Jim McGovern, Democratic House Representative <br />for Massachusetts, via Associated Press.<br />It should be there <br />and I hope it will be there <br />at the end of this process, Jim McGovern, Democratic House Representative <br />for Massachusetts, via Associated Press