The U.S. stock markets have continued to experience significant declines, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping to start the week at 890 points (2.1%) to close at 41,912. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also fell to begin the week by 2.7% and 4%, respectively. The downturn has heightened concerns among Black investors, who have historically faced challenges in wealth accumulation and market participation.

U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) have introduced a bipartisan bill to accelerate contract negotiations for newly formed unions and prevent corporations from using delay tactics to weaken collective bargaining. The Faster Labor Contracts Act has drawn support from Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), signaling a rare bipartisan push to strengthen workers’ rights. The legislation targets a major obstacle for unionized workers—securing an initial contract. While current law requires employers to negotiate in good faith, it does not impose a timeframe for reaching an agreement. As a result, many new unions face lengthy delays, often exceeding a year, as corporations stall negotiations. A Bloomberg Law study from 2021 found that, on average, it takes 465 days for newly unionized workers to obtain their first contract.