Proposed federal legislation known as the Faster Labor Contracts Act (FLCA) would change the process for reaching initial collective bargaining agreements between employers and newly organized employees.
The legislation would require employers and unions to reach a first contract within 120 days or enter binding interest arbitration, where a federally appointed panel would determine contract terms, including wages, benefits, scheduling, safety policies, and other workplace conditions.
Supporters of the bill argue it could help workers reach agreements more quickly. Opponents, including many business groups, argue it could reduce the role of employees and employers in negotiating agreements directly and limit workers’ ability to approve or reject final contract terms.
Under current labor law, collective bargaining is generally based on voluntary negotiations between employers and employees. The FLCA would introduce a process where unresolved negotiations could result in an outside panel determining the outcome.
