By Steve Bruns
As the owner of several large construction and development companies in Western Ohio, I have the privilege of employing hundreds of people. I do not take this responsibility lightly. Throughout my career, I’ve come to realize that there is nothing more important for a business owner than maintaining a healthy and trusting relationship with those who work for you. That’s why a bill moving through Congress right now worries me deeply, and it should worry every employer, every worker, and every elected official in Ohio.
The Faster Labor Contracts Act, which just passed the House 230–193, would insert the federal government directly into private-sector labor negotiations. Under the FLCA, if a newly organized union and employer haven’t reached a contract within 120 days, unelected government arbitrators step in and set the terms, including wages, benefits, and workplace rules, for two years. Workers wouldn’t get a vote, and employers wouldn’t have a say.
I find that idea appalling. The government should not be jumping in to dictate the terms of a workplace relationship without the impacted stakeholders (workers and their employers) having a say. The Coalition for a Democratic Workplace put it best: “Arbitrators, many of whom know nothing about running a business or the specifics of the business in question, could impose devastating terms for the employer or workers, and there would be no means of stopping them from running a business into the ground.”
The FLCA isn’t just about wages and hours. Some argue that it is also a backdoor for big unions to impose radical left ideology into the workplace. The Wall Street Journal editorial board recently warned, “Unions, allied with Democrats, have long supported a progressive agenda that includes collective bargaining for abortion coverage and transgender healthcare.” Under the FLCA, government arbitrators could force provisions for things like abortion coverage, gender-affirming care, and DEI mandates into a contract and lock them in for two years. Employers and workers alike would have little recourse.
Not only is this bill flawed, but it also skipped the normal legislative process. Seven House Republicans and 211 Democrats signed a discharge petition that bypassed the Speaker and committee review entirely. This denied the opportunity for experts to testify before Congress and explain why this bill is such a bad idea. It was rushed to the floor, and 20 Republicans voted for it without fully understanding what they were voting for.
The Senate must not make the same mistake.
I’m asking Senator Jon Husted to oppose the FLCA, and I’m asking Senator Bernie Moreno, who has cosponsored this legislation, to reconsider. Ohio’s workers and employers deserve better than having their workplace relationships dictated by Washington. The FLCA
doesn’t protect workers, but rather, it silences them. It strips workers of their chance to vote on their own contract.
Both of our state’s senators have championed limited government and the rights of Ohio workers and job creators. I respect Senator Moreno’s support for American workers, but this bill does not deliver what it promises. I urge both men to stand against it and to urge Senate leadership to keep it from ever reaching the floor.
Steve Bruns is President of Bruns General Contracting, a Division of Bruns Construction Enterprises; Chairman of the Miami County Republican Party; and a member of the Ohio Republican Party State Central Committee.
