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Forty House Democrats Call on President Biden to Sign Executive Order Banning Arbitration For Federal Contractors

 

On June 17th, forty House Democrats sent a letter to President Joe Biden, calling on him to sign an executive order that would ban the use of mandatory arbitration clauses for federal contractors.

Under the Procurement Act, a President has the ability to sign executive orders to implement certain policies without the need for Congressional approval.  The 40 House Democrats voiced their opposition to mandatory arbitration clauses for federal contractors, arguing that these clauses leave millions of private sector, non-union workers without access to justice.  (The logic follows that by being forced to arbitrate, these workers are deprived of due process and a chance to be heard.  Arguably, that is a bit of a stretch...as even in arbitration, each party has the opportunity to present their case to an arbitrator or a panel of arbitrators.  Granted, there is no jury in an arbitration setting nor is there much room to appeal an arbitration decision.)

Will this letter push President Biden to sign an executive order?  I would not hold my breath...but with a Democrat in the White House, the chances of this type of executive order being signed are a lot higher than when President Donald Trump was in office.


For a copy of the letter to President Biden:  https://aboutblaw.com/YaG

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