Government Affairs REPORT

Anti-business proposal:
Labor Committee bill bans workplace
communications

(Feb. 17, 2006) Barely a week after the General Assembly opened with bipartisan calls to boost Connecticut’s business climate, a bill barring employers from talking with their employees at customarily required staff meetings on topics important to the workers is expected to be fast-tracked by the chairs of the legislature’s Labor Committee.

HB-5030 stops employers from communicating on many key matters, including what’s going on at the state legislature that could affect their jobs, employee-specific issues like their retirement plans and health benefits, and even community action campaigns such as “Save Our SubBase.”

The Labor Committee bill sends a clear message that Connecticut is unfriendly to business.

Passage of the bill also would cut off one of the most important avenues of communication for state government — legislators and government officials alike depend upon the expertise of Connecticut businesses and their employees to help deal with many key issues. But employees need to be informed about these issues.

While proponents say they want to give employees the “freedom” from improper communications or restrictions by their employers, workers in Connecticut already have the power of state and federal law to protect them.

The Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act and the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) have abundant and strong guidelines about how employees may communicate and be communicated to in the workplace.

And employers face the threat of penalty for noncompliance.

The state legislature and federal government have already provided what the bill’s proponents say they are seeking — balance and fairness in the workplace.

The 2006 General Assembly began with an overwhelming bipartisan consensus — and public expectation — that Connecticut must dramatically improve its prospects for job creation and economic growth.

CBIA urges legislators to reject HB-5030 because it is unnecessary and would damage the state’s business climate and economy.

For more information, contact CBIA’s Bonnie Stewart at stewartb@cbia.com or 860-244-1900.n