Bill > S844

This bill aims to accelerate the process of negotiating first-time collective bargaining agreements between labor organizations and employers under the National Labor Relations Act. The bill recognizes that current labor negotiations can take over a year, which often benefits employers who want to delay or undermine labor organization efforts. Under the new provisions, when a labor organization is newly certified, employers must begin collective bargaining within 10 days of receiving a written request and make reasonable efforts to reach an agreement. If no agreement is reached within 90 days, either party can request mediation from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. If mediation fails after an additional 30 days, the dispute will be referred to a three-person arbitration panel that will render a binding two-year decision based on factors such as the employer's financial status, business type, employees' cost of living, and comparative wages in the industry. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to submit a report within one year examining the average time between labor organization certification and the first collective bargaining agreement. The goal is to help employees more quickly secure the benefits of collective representation and prevent employers from using prolonged negotiations to discourage unionization.

Health and Social Services

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/844/all-info