The Senate passed legislation stifling employers’ ability to freely and openly communicate with their employees by a vote of 30 to 4.

The so-called captive audience bill falsely claims to protect workers from being subjected to mandatory work meetings on pollical or religious matters but instead prevents small business owners from discussing the impact of unionization. The proposal conflicts with an employer’s First Amendment rights and similar laws face court challenges in both Connecticut and Minnesota. In 2008, a California law was challenged in Chamber of Commerce of the U.S. v. Brown and the Supreme Court struck it down by a 7-2 vote.

NFIB provided opposition testimony to both the House Committee on Labor and the Senate Committee on Labor and Gaming arguing captive audience laws unfairly prevent business owners from explaining to workers the real-world effects of unionizing, while also exposing employers to costly lawsuits. The bill has not yet been voted on in the House.

Please take a moment to send a message to your Representative urging them to oppose the captive audience bill.