House passes labor contract bill with bipartisan support
8 reported
The House of Representatives has approved a bill aimed at speeding up contract negotiations after workers vote to unionize, with 20 Republicans joining Democrats in the 230-193 vote. The Faster Labor Contracts Act, sponsored by New Jersey Democrat Donald Norcross, would require employers to begin negotiations within 10 days of a union election. If no deal is reached after 90 days, either party can involve the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, and after another 30 days, a three-member arbitration panel would impose a binding two-year contract. The bill reached the floor through a discharge petition, a procedural tactic used to bypass House Speaker Mike Johnson, with seven Republicans signing the petition. Opponents, including the CHRO Association representing 350 large corporations, called the measure "draconian" and argued that government arbitrators would lack on-the-ground understanding. The bill now moves to the Senate, where it faces steeper odds but has support from several Republicans, including Missouri Senator Josh Hawley.
What’s reported
The House passed the Faster Labor Contracts Act by a vote of 230 to 193.
Twenty Republicans joined Democrats in voting for the bill.
The bill requires employers to begin contract negotiations within 10 days of a union election.
If no agreement is reached after 90 days, either party can involve the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
After another 30 days without agreement, a three-member arbitration panel would impose a binding two-year contract.
The bill reached the House floor via a discharge petition, with seven Republicans signing it.
The CHRO Association, representing 350 large corporations, called the measure "draconian" in a letter to Speaker Johnson.
The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service has about 90 employees, less than half its size before a Trump executive order targeting entities for elimination.
Key figures
Donald Norcross, New Jersey Democrat, union electrician, and bill sponsor
Sean O'Brien, Teamsters General President
Gregory Hoff, general counsel of the CHRO Association
Josh Hawley, Missouri Senator and bill sponsor
Mike Johnson, House Speaker
Sources: NPR
