U.S. President Joe Biden has asked Congress to intervene and block a railroad
strike, before next month's deadline in the stalled contract talks.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi saiys lawmakers would take up legislation
this week, to impose the deal that unions agreed to in September.

The September agreement added three unpaid days off a year for engineers and
conductors to tend to medical appointments as long as they scheduled them at
least 30 days in advance.

The railroads also promised in September not to penalize workers who are
hospitalized and to negotiate further with the unions after the contract is
approved about improving the regular scheduling of days off.

Pelosi says the House of Representatives would not change the terms of the
September agreement, which would challenge the U.S. Senate, to approve the
House bill without changes.