School Bus Companies Have Held Captive Audience Meetings to Intimidate Workers
David C. Dal Zin
Ally Dube was a school bus driver employed by M & J Bus Inc. in North Stonington. When Ally and her co-workers tried to form a union, they were subjected to intense captive audience meetings where she felt “like a hostage.”
Watch Ally share her experience:
Senate Bill 163 would allow workers like Ally to leave meetings where the primary purpose is for employers to coerce their religious and political opinions upon them. Workers can return to work and not worry about being disciplined or fired. That’s it.
SB 163 DOES NOT:
- Limit employer speech or create an employer gag order. Employers can say whatever they want to whomever they want. SB 163 prohibits them from disciplining or firing workers for exercising their freedom of speech on religious or political matters.
- Prevent an employer (even a school bus company) from discussing health and safety issues, including COVID standards and vaccine protocols, with employees.
- Allow workers to leave meetings where job-related issues are being addressed, including discussions about relevant laws and regulations.
- Expose employers to unnecessary lawsuits. They can only be sued if they fire or discipline workers for exercising their freedom of speech on religious or political matters.
- Prohibit casual conversations about religion or politics.