Republicans’ Latest Pro-Union Move Has Some Conservatives Sounding The Alarm

A coalition of free market advocates urged lawmakers to reject a pro-union bill they warn would create a “dangerous” new power for federal bureaucrats that has the backing of some Republicans. 

The bill, known as the Faster Labor Contracts Act, would allow either side in a labor dispute to call in federal mediators if a contract agreement is not reached within 90 days. A House vote on the proposal is expected in the coming days, setting up a fight between some Republicans and free market advocates that oppose government intervention in the economy. 

More than two dozen organizations led by Advancing American Freedom demanded that GOP members of Congress vote against the proposal, saying that it would create a “dangerous new power” for the federal government to intervene in labor disputes, according to a letter obtained by The Daily Wire.

“Even with the best of intentions, government arbitrators could never wield this abuse-prone power effectively,” the coalition wrote in the letter. “At a time when Congress and the White House are working to rein in the federal bureaucracy and reduce government overreach, this legislation would move in the opposite direction by inserting Washington directly into private workplace negotiations.”

The proposal moved to the floor after a majority of Democrats and several Republicans signed onto a discharge petition last month. 

Republicans in the House who signed on to a discharge petition included Mike Lawler (NY), Nick LaLota (NY), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA),  Don Bacon (NE), Max Miller (OH), Riley Moore (WV), and Rob Bresnahan (PA). Republican supporters of the proposal argue it is pro-worker and will help blue-collar workers get back to work quicker. 

The Daily Wire reached out to their offices for comment on their support for the proposal. 

The bill has been pushed by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, who argue that it would prevent management from prolonging contract negotiations in an effort to wait out workers. 

“Delays in the processing of collective bargaining contracts primarily benefit employers opposed to representation by the labor organization,” the text of the proposal says. “The employers can use those delays to sap labor organization resolve and secure more favorable terms for the employer.”

In previous interviews, Fitzpatrick told union members that it would be the “most imminent piece of legislation that’s going to have the biggest impact on you all.” He said last month that he believed it would pass in the House. 

“And then our job is to find a way to navigate the Senate on that,” he said. “But if that emerges out of the House, there’s going to be a lot of pressure for them to put that up for a vote, and it’s a two party bill, so I actually feel quite good. And in a town where it’s hard to get things done, I actually feel quite good about the prospects, and that’s going to be a huge win for the Teamsters.”

Advancing American Freedom President Tim Chapman said that the proposal would undermine the negotiation process by involving government bureaucrats. 

“The Faster Labor Contracts Act should be dead on arrival under a Republican trifecta, but labor union leadership and populist pundits are telling members that this legislation is ‘pro-worker’,” Chapman told The Daily Wire. “Conservatives shouldn’t be fooled. Putting workers’ jobs in jeopardy by subjecting their workplaces to terms written by uninformed federal ‘arbitrators’ is anti-worker.”

The letter was also signed by representatives from organizations like the Center for Freedom and Prosperity, the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, Americans for Prosperity, the Eagle Forum, the Institute for the American Worker, the Goldwater Institute, and others. 

Akash Chougule, the President of The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, told The Daily Wire that Republicans supporting the legislation are “making a catastrophic policy and political mistake.”

He said that the bill would cut workers out of the process and primarily benefit union leaders, not workers. 

Vinnie Vernuccio, the president of the Institute for the American Worker, also said that it would give “unprecedented power” to federal bureaucrats. He said that his organization was “proud to stand for union democracy by joining the larger coalition and sounding the alarm on this harmful legislation.”

The Senate version of the proposal was introduced by Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and also supported by Republican Senators Roger Marshall (Kansas) and Bernie Moreno (Ohio) and 12 other Democrats. 

After the discharge petition advanced in the House, Hawley told The Daily Wire that the proposal would give workers more power against “woke corporations.” 

“We need real labor reform that puts workers first. For too long woke corporations have blocked workers’ rights while sending jobs to China,” he said. “I’m glad to see the House doing the right thing by American workers. Congress needs to pass my bill and get this done.”