Outlawing Captive Audiences to protect worker’s first amendment rights

S-3302 Lagana / A-4429 Verrelli

We must protect every worker’s right to free speech! Currently, employees are at risk of disciplinary measures or retaliatory actions if they decline to attend employer-sponsored meetings aimed at expressing personal political ideologies, religious convictions, or opinions regarding participation in labor unions, political parties, or civic groups.

Despite recent guidance from the National Labor Relations Board, employers often require attendance at these meetings, and take disciplinary actions or terminate workers if they refuse to attend, leave early, or even ask questions. 

What CWA is fighting for: The legislation restricts mandated requirements for employees to attend or participate in employer-sponsored meetings or other means of communication when conveying information on political matters. 

The bill also addresses punitive measures taken against workers that refuse to attend these meetings and requires employers to post notices in the workplace informing workers of their free speech rights. Employers can still hold these meetings so long as they inform employees that they may refuse to attend the meetings or accept the communications without penalty.

In 2006, New Jersey passed a law that had the same protections on religious and political matters in the workplace.  The bill would add labor organizations to the definition of “political matters.” Community organizations, civic organizations and fraternal organizations are already covered under existing law.