Faster Labor Contracts Act
Bipartisan Senate Bill Requires Binding Arbitration to End Long Delays for New Union Contracts
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill creates a strict timeline for employers and newly formed unions to agree on their first contract. Right now, it takes an average of 465 days for new unions to get a deal. The bill's sponsors, including Senator Hawley and Senator Booker, say these long delays allow companies to stall and weaken the union's power.
- Under the new rules, both sides must start talking within 10 days of a request. If they haven't reached a deal after 90 days, they can bring in a federal mediator to help. If there is still no deal after another 30 days of mediation, the case goes to a three-person panel for a final, binding decision.
- The three-person panel would include one person chosen by the union, one by the employer, and one neutral member. Their decision on wages and benefits would stay in place for two years. They would base their decision on the company’s profits, the local cost of living, and what similar jobs in the area pay.
- This change would mostly affect workers who have just voted to join a union but do not have a legal contract yet. It aims to ensure that a vote for a union leads to better pay and benefits quickly, rather than getting stuck in months or years of negotiations.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Small businesses whose workers vote to unionize would face a much faster timeline to reach a first labor contract. The bill requires bargaining to begin within 10 days of a union's request, and if no deal is reached within roughly 130 days, the case goes to binding arbitration. This limits a small employer's ability to negotiate at length but also provides certainty. The arbitration panel must consider the employer's financial status and the size and type of operations, which could protect smaller businesses from unaffordable terms, but the outcome is ultimately outside their control.
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
3 articlesHawley’s new bill prevents employers from stalling union negotiations
Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced the Faster Labor Contracts Act, a bipartisan proposal with Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) that would require employers to begin bargaining with unions within 10 days of a successful election and face binding arbitration if no deal is reached within 120 days.
Hawley's bill speeds up union elections by removing guardrails
The Faster Labor Contracts Act, introduced by Sen. Josh Hawley, aims to fast-track the union contract process by imposing a strict 100-day limit from election to completion. Critics argue the bill removes necessary guardrails that prevent workers from being railroaded into unions.
Fast Track to a First Contract: Senator Proposes Faster Labor Contracts Act
Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) proposed the Faster Labor Contracts Act to address the lengthy 458-day average it takes for unions and management to reach a first agreement. The bill includes mandatory mediation and binding arbitration provisions.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Faster Labor Contracts Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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