RILA Disappointed in House Passage of Faster Labor Contracts Act

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Faster Labor Contracts Act, legislation that would impose rigid federal timelines and binding arbitration on first contract negotiations between employers and newly certified unions.

RILA opposes the Faster Labor Contracts Act because it would undermine the collective bargaining process and take important choices away from workers. While supporters claim the bill would help workers secure contracts faster, the legislation could instead force employees into government-imposed agreements that they never had the opportunity to approve.

"Workers deserve meaningful negotiations, not rushed contracts imposed by Washington," said Austin Gold, Senior Director of Government Affairs at RILA. "The Faster Labor Contracts Act promises workers a stronger voice, but it risks doing the opposite by taking decisions out of their hands and giving them to government-appointed arbitrators. The Senate should reject this bill and focus on solutions that promote genuine good-faith bargaining without sacrificing worker choice."

RILA has urged lawmakers to pursue a more targeted approach that holds bad actors accountable without imposing one-size-fits-all mandates that could lead to unstable or unsustainable agreements. The retail industry operates in a complex and fast-changing environment, with large workforces, diverse job functions, and operations that vary significantly by location. Durable labor agreements require time, transparency, and meaningful input from the workers whose jobs would be governed by those contracts.

RILA urges the Senate to reject the Faster Labor Contracts Act and instead advance policies that protect workers' ability to participate in the bargaining process, preserve voluntary agreement, and promote stable labor-management relationships.

###

Media Contact: press@rila.org

RILA is the U.S. trade association for leading retailers. We convene decision-makers, advocate for the industry, and promote operational excellence and innovation. Our aim is to elevate a dynamic industry by transforming the environment in which retailers operate.

RILA members include more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers, which together account for more than $2.7 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs, and hundreds of thousands of stores, manufacturing facilities, and distribution centers domestically and abroad.