The U.S. Senate on Dec. 1 approved legislation to avoid a rail strike.
Senators voted 80-15 to pass the bill, which would impose a tentative agreement on rail workers and prohibit a strike.
President Joe Biden has said he will sign the bill after it reaches his desk.
A dozen unions representing more than 100,000 workers hammered out the agreement in the fall, but four of the unions later voted against ratifying it.
Workers had been preparing to strike on Dec. 9 absent the legislation or a new deal being reached.
Operators have warned that lost economic output resulting from a shutdown could reach or even eclipse $2 billion a day while business groups have said a strike would disrupt the transport of crucial items, including food and chemicals….