(NEW YORK) — American railway companies and unions have reached a tentative labor agreement amid the threat of strikes.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh announced the news on Twitter early Thursday, saying the deal “balances the needs of workers, businesses, and our nation’s economy.”

The Biden administration confirms the tentative deal to avoid the first nationwide rail worker strike in 30 years.
He went on to say the deal will provide rail workers with better pay, improved working conditions and “peace of mind around their health care costs.”
Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh said the deal came after 20 consecutive hours of negotiations.
Walsh added the rail system “is integral to our supply chain, and a disruption would have had catastrophic impacts.”
Amtrak had begun to cancel all long distance routes due to the possibility of a strike as soon as this Friday.

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