Biden signs bill forcing railroad contract on workers averting strike

President Biden signs legislation imposing a labor agreement on freight railroad workers after four of twelve unions rejected the White House-brokered contract due to the lack of paid sick leave. The bill, which passed the Senate 80-15 and the House on near-party-line votes, invokes the 1926 Railway Labor Act to force workers to accept the contract and prevents a strike that Biden says would cost 765,000 jobs and $2 billion per day. The Senate separately votes 52-43 to add seven days of paid sick leave, failing to reach the 60-vote threshold needed for passage. Rail unions condemn Biden for blocking their strike right despite his "most pro-union president" label. The East Palestine, Ohio train derailment occurs two months later.