Efforts to Expedite Union Contract Negotiations in U.S. Congress

After a successful union election, delays in reaching a first contract have long been criticized by the labor movement. On average, it takes 465 days, according to Bloomberg Law, for workers and their employers to finalize a contract. Some agreements take even longer. For example, the unionized Starbucks baristas in Buffalo, N.Y., and Staten Island Amazon warehouse workers, who both unionized in recent years, still lack contracts.

To address this, the House has passed the Faster Labor Contracts Act with a vote of 230 to 193. The bill aims to expedite contract negotiations by compelling employers to negotiate within 90 days. If no agreement is reached, federal mediators would intervene, followed by an arbitration process if necessary. This measure received bipartisan support, with twenty Republicans joining Democrats to pass the legislation.

“No more stop the steals. You got an election, you can get a contract,” said New Jersey Democrat Donald Norcross, a union electrician and the bill’s sponsor.

Norcross believes this bill offers significant new protections for workers, a sentiment shared by labor leaders. Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien emphasized the importance of holding corporations accountable for delaying contract negotiations.

Some Republicans believe the bill represents government overreach, potentially impacting employers, employees, and the economy negatively.

The bill was brought to the House floor using a discharge petition, a procedural mechanism that bypasses resistance from House leadership. Seven Republicans supported the petition to advance the Faster Labor Contracts Act, and the bill now heads to the Senate, where its prospects are uncertain. However, support exists from Republicans like Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, a sponsor of the bill.

Expedited Timeline for Contract Negotiations

Past efforts by Democrats to reform federal labor law through the PRO Act have not succeeded. The Faster Labor Contracts Act adopts part of the PRO Act by setting deadlines for post-union vote negotiations. Within 10 days of a union vote, employers must start contract negotiations. If deadlocked after 90 days, either party can request the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to mediate. Should disputes persist after an additional 30 days, arbitration by a three-member panel is mandated, considering factors like employer financial health and employee living costs. This arbitration agreement lasts for two years or until a mutual agreement is reached.

Concerns About the Bill

The CHRO Association, representing HR officers from major corporations, criticized the measure as “draconian.” Contract negotiations often take time due to their complexity. Gregory Hoff, the association’s general counsel, stressed that these agreements can be extensive and require careful drafting.

Some call for negotiation reforms, but Hoff argues that swift government-imposed contracts post-election don’t adequately reflect workplace realities.

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service’s resources have been reduced by the Trump administration, leading to concerns about its ability to handle increased arbitration demands. The agency operates with about 90 employees, compared to over double that before President Trump issued an order targeting agency reductions. Hoff questions whether the agency can manage the influx of first contracts arising annually.