California Outlaws Mandatory Anti-Union Meetings At Work

It’s the latest and largest state to declare “captive audience” meetings illegal. But employer groups are already mounting legal challenges to such laws.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a bill into law Friday barring employers from holding mandatory anti-union meetings in the workplace.

The legislation makes California the latest and largest state to outlaw what are known as “captive audience” meetings. At least eight other states, all Democratic-leaning, have passed similar bans with the support of labor unions.

Newsom said in a statement that the legislation guarantees “the right to work without fear of retaliation.”

“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,” he said.

Employers hold captive-audience meetings when trying to persuade workers not to unionize, often in the weeks ahead of a union election. Many companies hire outside consultants and pay them more than $3,000 per day to lead the meetings and combat the organizing effort.