WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) voted in support of legislation to make all rail carrier tentative agreements binding and avert a rail strike. He also voted for a second bill to guarantee seven days of paid sick leave for all rail workers. He voted against legislation to extend the negotiating period between the rail carriers and unions for an additional 60 days.

“Rail workers in Ohio deserve fair wages and benefits, dignity at work, and a fair contract with staffing levels that ensure their safety and the safety of the communities they serve,” said Brown. “This whole situation is something that rail carriers could have prevented by getting serious on sick pay and bargaining in good faith with workers.”

The legislation to make the tentative agreements binding passed by a vote of 80-15. The measure which would have guaranteed seven days of paid sick leave failed by a vote of 52-43, not getting the 60 votes it needed to pass.

Yesterday, Brown along with Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) issued a statement supporting both the tentative rail agreement and a measure guaranteeing all rail workers seven annual paid sick days. The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that both to averted a rail strike and guaranteed seven annual paid sick days.

Brown’s vote against extending the contract negotiation period follows letters from unions that represent rail workers, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Transportation Trades Department (TTD) of the AFL-CIO and from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, asking the Senate to reject another extension.

For years Brown has led the fight to ensure all work has dignity.

Last year, Brown introduced the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, comprehensive labor legislation to protect workers’ right to stand together and bargain for fairer wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces.