WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Tuesday, June 9, Rep. Josh Riley’s (NY-19) Faster Labor Contracts Act (H.R. 5408) passed the House with bipartisan support. This legislation would make sure that workers who vote to unionize don’t have to wait years for their first contract.

“When workers vote to form a union, they shouldn’t have to fight for years to win the fair wages, good benefits, and dignity they’ve earned,” said Rep. Riley. “Our bill levels the playing field by stopping employers from dragging their feet in negotiations and using delay tactics designed to wear workers down. It puts power back in the hands of working people and helps to end the union-busting that big corporations have gotten away with for far too long.” 

On average, it takes 465 days for workers to secure a first contract after forming a union. Workers across Upstate have faced the same delays, with employers dragging out talks and stalling on first contracts.

The Faster Labor Contracts Act would require employers to begin contract negotiations within 10 days of a union vote. If no agreement is reached in 90 days, talks move to mediation. If mediation fails within 30 days, the dispute heads to binding arbitration to lock in a fair first contract.

The bill has the backing of a broad coalition of unions, including the Teamsters, TWU, UBC, UFCW, IBEW, ATU, UAW, LiUNA, IAFF, IATSE, USW and more. Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien called it “one of the most consequential bills for organized labor in generations.”

You can read the text of the Faster Labor Contracts Act HERE.