Stauber Legislation to Speed Up First Contracts for New Unions Passes House

June 10, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Congressman Pete Stauber’s (MN-08) Faster Labor Contracts Act passed the House of Representatives. This bipartisan legislation will ensure that when workers vote to form a union, employers are not allowed to drag out negotiations on a collective bargaining agreement. “As a former police officer who organized my union, I’ve seen firsthand how frustrating this process can be for workers seeking a fair and timely contract,” said Congressman Pete Stauber. “America’s workers are the backbone of our economy, yet too often employers delay negotiations or refuse to engage in good-faith bargaining when it comes to a first union contract. The Faster Labor Contracts Act will ensure employers come to the table quickly, and I look forward to seeing this legislation have a positive impact on countless union workers and their families across the Northland.” According to Bloomberg Law, it takes an average of 458 days for unions and employers to agree on a first contract. The Faster Labor Contracts Act will amend Section 8(d) of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to require the following: After workers have voted to form a union, employers must begin negotiating with the new union within 10 days. If no agreement is reached after 90 days, a government mediator will step in to assist. If mediation fails 30 days after that, the dispute will be referred to a binding 3-person arbitration panel made up of one representative chosen by the workers, one representative chosen by the employers, and a neutral third member. This bill is endorsed by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters; Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU); American Compass; Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division-International Brotherhood of Teamsters; International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE); International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers (IW); International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF); International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW); International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots; International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers; International Union of Operating Engineers; International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT); International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW); Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA); Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (M.E.B.A.); National Employment Law Project; Transport Workers Union (TWU); Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM); United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA); United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC); United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW); United Mine Workers of America (UMWA); United Steelworkers (USW); Utility Workers Union of America ###