The House of Representatives approved a Democratic-led labor bill after 20 Republicans broke party lines to support the measure.
Introduced by Democratic Rep. Donald Norcross of New Jersey, the Faster Labor Contracts Act passed with a resounding 230-193 vote.
The bill to amend the National Labor Relations Act aims to accelerate contract negotiations between newly-unionized workplaces and their employees.
“Newly-unionized workers shouldn't have to wait years for their first contract. I appreciate my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for coming together to take this enormous step,” Norcross, an electrician by trade and a union member, said after the Tuesday vote.
The bill was introduced in September, with Republican Rep. Pete Stauber of Minnesota lending his bipartisan support.
“The right of workers to form a union and collectively bargain is crucial to improving wages, hours, working conditions, and so much more. I know because I’ve lived it,” Stauber said.
As expected, Stauber voted “yea” on the measure. He was joined by fellow Republican representatives Mike Carey, Dave Joyce, Max Miller, Michael Turner, and Michael Rulli of Ohio; Andrew Garbarino, Nick LaLota, Nick Langworthy, Nicole Malliotakis, and Mike Lawler of New York.
Carlos Gimenez and Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida; Riley Moore of West Virginia; Jefferson Van Drew and Christopher Smith of New Jersey; Brian Fitzpatrick and Rob Bresnahan of Pennsylvania; Don Bacon of Nebraska, and Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin also voted in favor.
Lawler said workers “who choose to organize deserve a fair shot at reaching their first contract.”
“This bipartisan legislation helps ensure the collective bargaining process moves forward in good faith and that workers have a meaningful opportunity to secure the benefits and protections they voted for,” he added, in a statement after the vote.
Lawler’s vote lands as he faces a competitive race to continue
