Legislation has now been sent to the U.S. Senate designed to shorten the time between when employers and workers forge a contract after those workers have previously approved union representation.
The Faster Labor Contracts Act was approved by what some Washington insiders regard as a surprisingly large margin in the House of Representatives of 230 to 193. Authored by Democrat New Jersey Representative Donald Norcross, the bill would require that employers and labor representatives come to an agreement on a contract in no less than 90 days.
According to a release issued by Norcross’s office, the Faster Labor Contracts Act will “ensure that when workers vote to form a union, employers are not allowed to drag out negotiations on a first collective bargaining agreement.”
Under the legislation, if no agreement between the parties is reached after 90 days, the dispute will be subject to legal mediation.
The Faster Labor Contracts Act has won the backing of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, whose president, Sean O’Brien, said the legislation “has a real shot to right generations of wrongs and level the playing field for workers.”
Opposition has been voiced by various industry groups, with the Associated Builders and Contractors contending that it will not only impose “unrealistic, arbitrary deadlines” in labor negotiations, but will “provide no recourse for workers or businesses if they disagree with the decision of a government-appointed arbiter.”
The legislation is now being reviewed in the U.S. Senate where it has won the early backing of New Jersey Democrat Senator Cory Booker and Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley.
June 18, 2026
By Garry Boulard
Photo courtesy of Office of Representative Donald Norcross
