US President Joe Biden signed into law on Friday a bill forcing labour unions and companies to accept a compromise agreement he brokered over the summer, averting a looming nationwide rail shutdown. For the first time in 30 years, Congress intervened to avert a rail strike. Biden had implored lawmakers to quickly pass the measure, emphasizing that the economic fallout that would result from a rail strike would be catastrophic and would cost hundreds of thousands of jobs. The House of Representatives passed the bill on Wednesday, followed by the Senate on Thursday. Both chambers lent overwhelming support.
