Workers who vote to unionize shouldn’t have to wait years to see the benefits — that’s the message behind a new bill introduced by Congressman Josh Riley.
The Faster Labor Contracts Act (H.R. 5408), announced Tuesday, would require employers to begin bargaining within 10 days of a union election. If no contract is reached within 90 days, the talks would go to mediation. After 30 more days, if mediation fails, the dispute would be resolved by binding arbitration.
“Too often, big corporations drag their feet and use delay tactics to wear workers down,” Riley said. “This bill gives workers the power to win the fair wages, good benefits, and the dignity they’ve earned.”
On average, it takes more than 450 days for workers to secure a first contract after forming a union. Riley’s office says workers across Upstate New York have faced similar delays, with companies stalling negotiations for months — or even years.
The bill already has support from a wide range of national unions, including the Teamsters, IBEW, UAW, UFCW, USW, and more. Teamsters President Sean O’Brien called it “one of the most consequential bills for organized labor in generations.”
Riley, who represents New York’s 19th Congressional District, has made labor rights and middle-class growth central to his legislative agenda. His record includes bills on energy, agriculture, manufacturing, and emergency responder benefits — all aimed at boosting working families in Upstate New York.
As the bill moves through Congress, Riley says he’ll continue pressing for labor reforms that put workers “on equal footing at the bargaining table.”
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