Senate moves quickly to avert US rail strike by passing key bill

Bill goes to Biden's desk for his signature after legislation that binds rail firms and workers to settlement plan passes 80-15

The Senate moved quickly on Thursday to avert a rail strike that the Biden administration and business leaders warned would have had devastating consequences for the nation's economy.

The Senate passed a bill to bind rail companies and workers to a proposed settlement that was reached between the rail companies and union leaders in September. That settlement had been rejected by some of the 12 unions involved, creating the possibility of a strike beginning 9 December.