When workers vote to form a union, their employer must now start contract talks within 10 days of receiving a written request. If both sides cannot reach a first agreement within 90 days, either party can call in federal mediators from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (a neutral government agency). If mediation still fails after 30 more days, a three-person arbitration panel steps in and issues a binding two-year contract, weighing factors like employer finances, employee cost of living, and wages at comparable companies. The law applies only to first-contract negotiations after a union is newly certified or recognized.
Average Household Impact
- Timeline to first union contract — mandatory start within 10 days, binding arbitration after failed 90-day talks
Transparency & Accountability
- GAO report on average time-to-contract — required within 1 year of enactment
Congressional Summary
Faster Labor Contracts ActThis bill establishes mandatory deadlines for parties negotiating an initial collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and provides for mediation and arbitration to finalize CBAs.Under the bill, CBA negotiations must begin within 10 days after an employer receives a written request from a newly recognized or certified bargaining representative. The bill provides that parties must make every reasonable effort to conclude and sign a CBA. Further, the bill provides that, if the parties have not reached an agreement after 90 days, either party may request mediation by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). The bill directs FMCS to use its best efforts to secure an agreement.If mediation does not result in an agreement within 30 days (or an additional period agreed to by both parties), FMSC must refer the parties to an arbitration panel to render a decision settling the dispute. The panel must consider specified factors, including the employer's financial prospects and employees' cost of living. The resulting CBA is binding on the parties for two years. (Parties may agree to amend the terms during the two-year period.)The bill specifies that (1) an employer must maintain current wages, hours, terms, and conditions of employment during negotiations; and (2) an employer's duty to collectively bargain continues even if a representative has been decertified. The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress regarding the average number of days between the certification or recognition of a bargaining representative and the date the initial CBA was executed.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Passed House
- Action Date
- 2026-06-09
- Date Added
- 2026-06-24
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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