The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation that would significantly change the process for negotiating first contracts between newly formed unions and employers, setting up a debate over how quickly workers should be able to secure collective bargaining agreements after voting to unionize.

The measure, known as the Faster Labor Contracts Act, seeks to address a longstanding issue in labor relations: the delay that can occur between a successful union election and the negotiation of a first contract. Supporters say some newly certified unions spend months — or even years — attempting to reach an agreement with employers, leaving workers without the wages, benefits, and workplace protections they hoped to secure through organizing.

The bill would amend the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) by establishing a timeline for first-contract negotiations. Under the proposal, employers and unions would be required to begin bargaining within 10 days after a union is certified. If the parties fail to reach an agreement within 90 days, either side could request mediation through the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

If mediation does not produce a contract after an additional 30 days, the dispute would move to binding arbitration. A panel of arbitrators would then determine the terms of a first collective bargaining agreement, which would remain in effect for two years.

Supporters argue that the legislation would help ensure workers are able to realize the...

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