We need your help defeating the Faster Labor Contracts Act (FLCA, H.R. 5408)––a key component of the controversial Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act) and one of organized labor’s top legislative priorities.

Unfortunately, the FLCA passed the United States House of Representatives on June 9 on a bipartisan basis, despite IEC and coalition lobbying and grassroots efforts.* 

Now we need your grassroots support to defeat the FLCA in the U.S. Senate and prevent it from going to President Trump’s desk for his signature.

The FLCA is specifically problematic for IEC contractors and workers because after a union organizing campaign that results in the certification of a union:

• Employers would have to begin bargaining with a newly certified union within 10 days of the union submitting a written request, and the parties would have 90 days to reach a first contract.
• If no agreement is reached, either party could invoke mediation through the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, an obscure agency the Trump administration has targeted for near elimination.
• If no agreement is reached after 30 days of mediation, binding interest arbitration is triggered, and the resulting contract is binding for two years.
• These arbitrators would have the power to set wages, benefits, and working conditions—without regard for a company’s financial reality.
• Neither party may appeal it, and workers do not get to ratify or reject it.

For small, merit shop contractors, this could mean:

• Unsustainable labor costs.
• Reduced flexibility to manage your workforce.
• Increased legal and administrative burdens.
• Less control over your business operations.

Contact your Senators today and urge them to oppose the Faster Labor Contracts Act.

IEC especially needs chapters and members to contact the following potential Senate swing votes: Banks (IN), Capito (WV), Collins (ME), Husted (OH), McCormick (PA), Murkowski (AK), Sullivan (AK), and Warner (VA) (the only Dem. to not sponsor the PRO Act). 

*The 20 GOP House members who voted for the FLCA are Don Bacon (NE), Robert Bresnahan (PA), Mike Carey (OH), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Andew Garbarino (NY), Carlos Gimenez (FL), David Joyce (OH), Nick LaLota (NY), Nick Langworthy (NY), Mike Lawler (NY), Nicole Malliotakis (NY), Max Miller (OH), Riley Moore (WV), Michael Rulli (OH), Maria Salazar (FL), Chris Smith (NJ), Pete Stauber (MN), Michael Turner (OH), Jeff Van Drew (NJ), and Derrick Van Orden (WI). All but one of the 17 Republican cosponsors of the FLCA voted for the bill and seven Republicans signed the discharge petition.