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May 9, 2022

Business leaders ask Lamont to veto 'captive audience' ban bill

HBJ Photo | Steve Laschever CBIA CEO Chris DiPentima.

Following last week’s vote to ban “captive audience” meetings in the General Assembly, business leaders in the state are calling on Gov. Ned Lamont to veto the bill.

The Connecticut Business and Industry Association joined leaders from more than 50 businesses and trade organizations Monday to ask Lamont to veto Senate Bill 163, which was passed in the state Senate in April and the House of Representatives last week before the session ended.

The bill bans captive audience meetings, mandatory meetings by companies that discuss employee labor rights. Critics have said such meetings are used to shut down employee organizing efforts, but the CBIA called the bill “widely regarded as an unconstitutional attempt to restrict workplace communications and an infringement on employer free speech rights.”

In a statement, CBIA president and CEO Chris DiPentima said labor experts have said bills banning captive audience meetings are preempted by the National Labor Relations Act and such meetings are protected by federal law.

“This bill does not say Connecticut is open for business,” DiPentima said. “This bill was pushed by groups representing less than 10% of Connecticut’s population and 18% of the workforce.”

As part of the CBIA’s plea to Lamont, HABCO Industries President and CEO Brian Montanari and AI Engineers Vice President of Human Resources and Talent Engagement Jocelyn Feder said the bill would be a detriment to communications between employers and employees.

“If Connecticut becomes a state where employers can't have open conversations with employees, we no longer attract businesses, talent, or new residents,” Montanari said.

Greater New Haven and Quinnipiac Chambers of Commerce President and CEO Garret Sheehan said the ban on discussing legislation and regulations in captive audience meetings wouldn’t be a good restriction.

“The broad definition of the term ‘political matters’ in this bill has the potential to limit critical information between employers and employees related to the operation of the business and employer involvement in civic or community events," Sheehan said.

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