Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen President Michael Baldwin discusses Congress' involvement to avoid a rail strike, arguing a strike is the 'last thing' the industry wants.

The Senate on Thursday passed a bill to avoid a railroad strike, while rejecting separate measures to give rail workers extra sick leave days and to extend a cooling-off period between management and labor for 60 days. .

The bill to avoid the strike passed 80 to 15 with bipartisan support and avoids a catastrophic blow to the U.S.

Schumer announced the votes Thursday afternoon after negotiations between Republicans and Democrats on how to handle two bills the House passed Wednesday on preventing the strike and giving workers seven extra sick days. .

It would grant workers three unpaid sick days as long as the employers were provided with at least 30 days' notice before the time was taken.

They are asking for seven additional days of paid sick leave — a demand the House moved to grant Wednesday.

John Thune, R-S.D., predicted Thursday the Senate will vote on a bill to avert a rail strike.

That high bar to clear made it significantly more difficult for the chamber to pass the seven days of sick leave measure, which had limited support among Republicans — to the frustration of Sen.

"I'm going to vote yes on the sick leave, because that's what the workers actually want, and I'm going to vote no on the underlying bill because I don't support it, and the workers don't support it," Hawley said.

But on the underlying bill to avoid the shutdown, even Democrats demanding better treatment for rail workers were reluctant say they would vote against it — even without the additional sick leave.