Machinists union approves Biden rail deal on second vote

Nearly 5,000 workers affiliated with the International Association of Machinists approved a second tentative labor agreement with freight rail carriers, potentially putting off a complete rail shutdown in the next several weeks.

Members of IAM District Lodge 19 voted Saturday to approve the offer. The pillars of the deal were hashed out in an all-night bargaining session at the US Department of Labor in September. The Local 19 union rejected that contract and authorized a strike in September.

A union spokesperson said 59% of the membership participated in the vote, and the agreement was ratified with 52% of voting members accepting the agreement. Members will receive full retroactive pay, within 60 days of contract ratification, according to the union.

The two largest rail unions—the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the SMART Transportation Division—are scheduled to vote on the rail deal later this month.