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Faster Labor Contracts Act

USA119th CongressS-844| Senate 
| Updated: 3/4/2025
Josh Hawley

Josh Hawley

Republican Senator

Missouri

Cosponsors (12)
Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Ruben Gallego (Democratic)Jon Ossoff (Democratic)Lisa Blunt Rochester (Democratic)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Elissa Slotkin (Democratic)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Bernie Moreno (Republican)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)Mark Kelly (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill seeks to significantly accelerate the timeline for establishing initial collective bargaining agreements following the certification or recognition of a labor organization. Congress finds that current negotiation processes are often protracted, with an average delay of 465 days to secure a first contract, which primarily benefits employers and undermines employees' collective bargaining rights. The bill amends Section 8 of the National Labor Relations Act to introduce new requirements for initial contract negotiations. Specifically, parties must meet and begin bargaining within 10 days of a written request after union certification or recognition. If no agreement is reached within 90 days , either party may request mediation from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). Should mediation fail to produce an agreement within 30 days , the FMCS is mandated to refer the dispute to a 3-person binding arbitration panel . This panel's decision, which must consider factors such as the employer's financial status, employee cost of living, and wages in comparable businesses, will be binding on the parties for a period of two years. Additionally, the bill clarifies an employer's duty to bargain and maintain current employment terms during negotiations. Finally, the legislation requires the Comptroller General to submit a report within one year of enactment, examining the average time taken to reach initial collective bargaining agreements under the new provisions.
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Timeline
Mar 4, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Mar 4, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Sep 16, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-5408
Introduced in House
  • March 4, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 4, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • September 16, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-5408
    Introduced in House

Labor and Employment

Related Bills

  • HR 119-5408: Faster Labor Contracts Act
Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitrationCongressional oversightGovernment studies and investigationsLabor-management relationsWages and earnings

Faster Labor Contracts Act

USA119th CongressS-844| Senate 
| Updated: 3/4/2025
This bill seeks to significantly accelerate the timeline for establishing initial collective bargaining agreements following the certification or recognition of a labor organization. Congress finds that current negotiation processes are often protracted, with an average delay of 465 days to secure a first contract, which primarily benefits employers and undermines employees' collective bargaining rights. The bill amends Section 8 of the National Labor Relations Act to introduce new requirements for initial contract negotiations. Specifically, parties must meet and begin bargaining within 10 days of a written request after union certification or recognition. If no agreement is reached within 90 days , either party may request mediation from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). Should mediation fail to produce an agreement within 30 days , the FMCS is mandated to refer the dispute to a 3-person binding arbitration panel . This panel's decision, which must consider factors such as the employer's financial status, employee cost of living, and wages in comparable businesses, will be binding on the parties for a period of two years. Additionally, the bill clarifies an employer's duty to bargain and maintain current employment terms during negotiations. Finally, the legislation requires the Comptroller General to submit a report within one year of enactment, examining the average time taken to reach initial collective bargaining agreements under the new provisions.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Mar 4, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Mar 4, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Sep 16, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-5408
Introduced in House
  • March 4, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 4, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • September 16, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-5408
    Introduced in House
Josh Hawley

Josh Hawley

Republican Senator

Missouri

Cosponsors (12)
Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Ruben Gallego (Democratic)Jon Ossoff (Democratic)Lisa Blunt Rochester (Democratic)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Elissa Slotkin (Democratic)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Bernie Moreno (Republican)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)Mark Kelly (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Labor and Employment

Related Bills

  • HR 119-5408: Faster Labor Contracts Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitrationCongressional oversightGovernment studies and investigationsLabor-management relationsWages and earnings