Twenty House Republicans broke ranks on Tuesday and joined Democrats in voting to prevent companies from stalling union contracts.
In a 230-191 vote, the House approved the bill in defiance of House GOP leadership. All Democrats who voted supported the measure.
The discharge petition forced a vote on the Faster Labor Contracts Act, a bill requiring employers to bargain within 10 days of union certification to prevent employers from stalling first-time union contracts. The bill had 17 House Republican co-sponsors. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) sponsored the bill in the Senate.
“The right of workers to form a union and collectively bargain is crucial to improving wages, hours, working conditions, and so much more. I know because I’ve lived it,” Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ), the lead sponsor of the bill, wrote in a statement. “Right now, employers can delay negotiations on first contracts for years. The Faster Labor Contracts Act will force employers to act in good faith and come to the negotiating table quickly.
Critics argue the shortened timeline does not allow proper time to negotiate and work out contracts.
