‘Coercion’: Newsom Bans Mandatory Anti-Union Meetings In California
By: Sienna Davis
October 3, 2024
California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed a law that prevents employers from requiring employees to attend anti-union meetings, as verified by HollywoodUnlocked.com. The gatherings are commonly referred to as “captive audience” meetings. “California has a rich history of standing up for workers’ rights, and this bill continues that tradition ― making sure employees have the freedom to make their own decisions without coercion,” Newsom said. The legislation positions California among at least eight other Democratic-leaning states that have implemented similar bans. Supporters claimed that the bill is aimed at protecting workers’ rights and ensuring they can make decisions without coercion. While employers can still hold anti-union meetings, attendance must be voluntary, and violations of the law allow workers to seek damages in court. “There is a threat,” the National Labor Relations Board general counsel Jennifer Abruzzo said. “It’s inherent because these workers are economically dependent upon their employer. They have no true ability to exercise their right to refrain without fear of some sort of reprisal.” There are ongoing legal challenges to such laws from employer groups, citing conflicts with federal labor law and First Amendment rights.There have been multiple efforts to ban captive-audience meetings at the federal level, supported by the National Labor Relations Board’s current general counsel.
