Two recent developments in Congress signal potentially significant changes affecting labor law as we move further into 2026.

First, the House of Representatives passed the Faster Labor Contracts Act (H.R. 5408) on June 9, 2026. This bill would create a new process for negotiating collective bargaining agreements, in a way that significantly benefits unions. It would require employers to meet and begin bargaining with a union within 10 days after they receive a written bargaining request from a newly recognized or certified union. The parties must make “every reasonable effort” to reach an agreement during this initial period.

If the parties did not reach an agreement within 90 days, either party could notify the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) and request mediation. If mediation did not succeed within 30 days, FMCS would refer the dispute to a three-person arbitration panel. The panel would then issue a binding decision that governs the terms of the parties’ collective bargaining agreement for two years. In determining those terms, the panel must consider the employer’s financial status, as well as the size and type of its operations; employees’ cost of living and ability to support themselves and their families; and the wages and benefits that comparable employers offer in the same industries.

The bill received bipartisan support in the House of Representatives. However, the Senate must still pass the bill, and the President must sign it before it...

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