House passes labor contract bill 230-193 with 20 GOP votes
What's next: The measure moves to the Senate, where backers include Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley but prospects are tougher.
The House voted 230-193 to pass the Faster Labor Contracts Act, a labor-backed bill meant to speed first union agreements after workers organize. Twenty Republicans joined Democrats in support. The measure would require employers and newly certified unions to begin bargaining, bring in federal mediators if no deal is reached within 90 days, and send disputes to arbitration soon after if talks still stall. Supporters say it targets yearslong delays that have left some high-profile union wins, including Starbucks workers in Buffalo and Amazon workers in Staten Island, without a first contract. The bill reached the floor through a discharge petition that bypassed House Speaker Mike Johnson and now heads to the Senate.