House Passes Bill to Avert Rail Strike, Adds Paid Sick Days


   
   CRANBURY, N.J. (DTN) -- The U.S. House of Representatives today passed 
legislation averting a rail strike, and in a second motion, added seven days of 
paid sick leave.

   In a 290 to 137 vote, House members passed legislation adopting the 
Tentative Agreement -- a five-year agreement between freight rail workers and 
rail carriers that was agreed to by eight of the 12 unions. Seventy-nine 
Republicans joined Democrats in passing the measure, with eight Democrats 
voting against the legislation.

   In a second up-or-down vote, the House added seven days of paid sick leave 
to the Tentative Agreement in a 221 to 207 vote. Paid sick days were a sticking 
point by unions voting against the Tentative Agreement.

   The resolution now goes to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

   A cooling-off period in which workers are not allowed to strike and 
railroads are prohibited from locking out workers ends Dec. 8, freeing workers 
to strike on Dec. 9.




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