W.Va. Would Ban Employer Captive-Audience Meetings

The West Virginia House of Delegates overwhelmingly passed legislation to prevent employers from using captive audience meetings to intimidate workers who want to organize a union. The bill would prohibit employers from requiring employees to attend captive audience meetings on either political or labor-related issues. The measure (H.B. 4132) passed 64-33 on Feb. 26 and awaits action in Senate.

To date, New Jersey is the only state that has enacted legislation preventing employers from using mandatory meetings to scare workers who want a union. Thus far, anti-labor forces have beaten back similar measures in Colorado, Michigan, and Oregon.