WASHINGTON, D.C. — The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) commends the bipartisan majority in the U.S. House of Representatives that voted today to pass the IATSE-endorsed Faster Labor Contracts Act (FLCA), including 210 Democrats and 20 Republicans. Led by Representative Donald Norcross (NJ-01), supporters of the bill used a Congressional procedure known as a discharge petition to force a vote on the legislation, bypassing the opposition of Speaker Mike Johnson (LA-04) and House Republican leadership.
The FLCA mirrors a key provision of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act to speed up first contracts for new unions. The bill would amend the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to require that employers must begin bargaining within 10 days of a successful union election. Under the proposed FLCA, if parties fail to reach an agreement within 90 days, the dispute proceeds to mediation and, if necessary, binding arbitration to secure an initial contract. Under current law, there is no deadline for reaching a first contract, allowing employers to drag out negotiations and deny workers the wages, benefits, and protections they voted to secure.
“This successful vote on the Faster Labor Contracts Act shows that even in a Washington where corporate interests wield inordinate sway, workers and our allies in Congress can still organize and win,” said IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb. “Too often, employers stall first contract negotiations to wear workers down and deprive them of their rights. While this legislation faces an uphill battle in the Senate, it represents an important step toward securing the necessary reforms contained within the PRO Act. IATSE is grateful to Reps. Norcross, Stauber, and every member of Congress who stood with workers on this issue.”
Timely first contracts are particularly important for entertainment workers, whose livelihoods often depend on moving from job to job. Securing a first contract quickly can be critical before a motion picture production wraps or a theater season ends. Delays in bargaining can mean missing out on the industry standards and protections we fight for. IATSE will keep fighting for the FLCA and the full slate of PRO Act reforms to restore balance and power to America’s workers.
