WATCH: Biden to speak on averting holiday rail strike from White House
Misty Severi
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President Joe Biden addressed the nation from the Roosevelt Room of the White House Friday before signing a resolution that successfully averted a national railway strike ahead of the holiday season.
SENATE PASSES BILL TO AVERT HOLIDAY RAIL STRIKE, SENDING LEGISLATION TO BIDEN’S DESK
Both houses of Congress passed the resolution earlier this week, with the Senate passing the resolution in an 80-15 vote on Thursday. The upper chamber backed a tentative agreement negotiated by the Biden administration that grants 24% pay increases, bonuses, and safety provisions. However, a separate measure that ensured workers seven days of paid sick leave was not approved by the Senate.
Biden thanked both houses for agreeing to the resolution. The railway employees gave both houses until Dec. 9 to reach an agreement before they promised to strike. If the strike occurred, it was projected to cost the United States approximately $2 billion a day.
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“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,” Biden said in a statement Thursday. “Working together, we have spared this country a Christmas catastrophe in our grocery stores, in our workplaces, and in our communities.”