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Dear John,
Some union-busting tactics are illegal. Some aren’t -- yet -- but should be.
Captive audience meetings are one of the methods major corporations, from Starbucks to Amazon to Trader Joe’s, use to try to intimidate union organizers and any worker who might want to unionize.
They’re called captive audience meetings because workers are required to attend. And I don’t think you’ll be surprised to hear that these meetings feature anti-union rhetoric and often establish a climate of fear of retaliation and retribution.
The meetings happen during work hours, are usually led by top management -- sometimes even feature prepared videos, slide decks, or live phone calls with the CEO.
The clear message is, if you show any interest in unionizing, or want to share any concerns about pay or working conditions with your fellow workers, the bosses are watching, and they do not support collective bargaining.
We need to stand up against tactics of fear and intimidation such as this. Sign the petition to your governor today to call for expanding the ban on corporations requiring captive audiences at anti-union meetings.
Fortunately, some state governments have begun supporting workers’ rights to organize. In September, New York became the sixth state to ban captive audience meetings, along with Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Oregon.
These laws generally take the form of prohibiting employers from taking adverse action against an employee who chooses not to attend a meeting or communicate about an employer’s religious or political opinions. The employers are required to post a notice about this right.
Under these laws, employers may still require employees to attend meetings to receive information the employer is legally required to communicate, or that is needed for employees to perform their job duties.
Supervisors may still be required to attend anti-union meetings, and employees may be expected to meet with an educational institution that is providing required coursework. Casual conversations about religious or political views are not prohibited unless the employee is required to participate.
The right to organize is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which, in addition to protecting the right to free speech, assembly, and petition, also protects the right to association. Using required meetings to encroach on workers’ rights to organize is an infringement on this constitutional guarantee.
Abolishing captive audience meetings will enable workers to organize for better wages and working conditions without being forced to listen to intimidating or retaliatory rhetoric. Tell your governor to ban captive audience meetings by adding your name now.
Thank you for supporting the growing and active labor movement in this country.
Robert Reich
Inequality Media Civic Action
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