Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)
WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives today passed The Faster Labor Contracts Act, a bill co-sponsored by Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) that would stop corporations from using endless negotiating delays to block unions from obtaining their first contract.
The bill, introduced by Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01), would establish clear deadlines for a first contract, and guarantee mediation and binding arbitration if the deadlines aren’t met. Together, its provisions guarantee that workers will receive the protections of a union contract in a timely, fair manner. It passed the House with bipartisan support in a 230-193 vote.
“Federal law protects the right of workers to form a union and collectively bargain for fair wages, benefits and working conditions, but that right is meaningless if corporations can delay a contract indefinitely by dragging their feet at the negotiating table,” Golden said. “I’m proud to join Congressman Norcross to oppose these anti-union tactics and strengthen the promise of collective bargaining for American workers.”
Unionization rates are rising as more Americans reap the benefits of collective bargaining. But under current law, after workers vote to form a union, companies are allowed to drag out the negotiating process indefinitely. On average it takes 458 days for a new union to negotiate its first contract.
The Faster Labor Contract Act requires corporations to begin negotiations within 10 days of workers voting to form a union. If no contract is agreed within 90 days, the law would require mediation. And if mediation failed after 30 days, the dispute would be sent to binding arbitration to secure an initial contract.
A new analysis by the Economic Policy Institute finds that corporations drag their feet negotiating with their workers far more than in other negotiations. For example, Starbucks has made its workers wait four and a half years, and counting, for a first union contract, but managed to negotiate a merger with Teavana in just 67 days. Amazon has made its workers wait 498 days for a contract so far but completed its blockbuster merger with Whole Foods in 123 days.
“It is clear that corporations can move quickly to reach a deal related to a merger or acquisition but are far too often unwilling to apply that same priority to negotiations with their workforce for a fair first contract,” the EPI researchers wrote.
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