Employers’ Forced Worker Meetings Face Legislative Challenge

Unions are hoping that a pair of bills under consideration in Connecticut will notch another win in their effort to outlaw captive audience meetings, which they say employers use to prevent labor organizing.

“Captive audience” meetings are workplace gatherings that employers require their workers to attend and at which companies communicate their opinions on a variety of matters, including politics, religion, and labor organizing.

Alex Hertel-Fernandez, an assistant professor in international and public affairs at Columbia University, told Connecticut legislators that captive audience meetings can be political rallies or gatherings to push a particular political candidate or bill. He testified ...