Labor Committee bills hit
workplace communications,
workers’ comp reforms

(March 14, 2006) The Labor Committee has approved several bills that block employers from communicating with their employees and undermine the state’s workers’ compensation reforms.

Ignoring calls from legislative leaders to enact measures that will help Connecticut’s economy grow again, the Labor Committee bills send chilling, anti-business signals.

'Captive audience'

HB-5030, the 'captive audience' bill, stops employers from communicating with employees at customarily required staff meetings. Many businesses speak frequently with their employees at mandatory staff meetings to keep them abreast of key workplace and industry issues.

According to the bill, however, Connecticut employers will not be able to communicate with their employees about “political matters” — which is so broadly defined that it includes:

• What’s going on at the state Capitol that could affect their jobs,
• Employee-specific issues such as retirement plans and health benefits, and
• Community action efforts such as the “Save Our SubBase” campaign last year or the United Way.
  

Neutrality agreements

HB-5032 requires companies receiving state assistance to sign a neutrality agreement in union organizing campaigns that would deny employees the benefit of a full and open debate prior to a union election.

In effect, it allows promoters and supporters of organized labor to express their views but bars employers from expressing any views about unionization and how it might affect the company. In addition, it would deny employees their right to vote in a secret ballot election supervised by the National Labor Relations Board.

The committee approved the bill even though it is pre-empted by federal law, and federal courts in California, Wisconsin and New York have struck down similar measures. The bill was sent to the Commerce Committee.

Workers' comp reforms

SB-24 allows lawsuits to be filed against employers in certain workers’ compensation cases. Because Connecticut’s workers’ comp system is designed to be the only remedy for workplace injuries, efforts such as this to breach this standard will weaken the state’s business climate and economic development efforts. The bill was sent to the Judiciary Committee.

SB-25 allows claimants to collect both workers’ compensation and Social Security benefits at the same time. Offsets are logical and important safeguards to maintain the integrity of the workers’ comp system, which is a wage-replacement system. Letting individuals collect more than their weekly wage replacement, as this bill would allow, creates a significant disincentive for people to return to work. The bill was sent to the Senate.

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 these measures because they are unnecessary and would damage the state’s business climate and economy.

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

Labor Committee vote on HB-5030

The Labor Committee approved HB-5030, the “captive audience” bill that stops employers from communicating with employees at customarily required staff meetings. CBIA opposed the bill.

Key to positions:
S = Supported CBIA’s position (opposing the bill)
O = Opposed CBIA’s position
A = Absent

Rep. Richard Belden (R-113) S
Rep. Lawrence Cafero Jr. (R-142) S
Rep. Louis P. Esposito Jr. (D-116) O
Rep. Henry J. Genga (D-10) O
Sen. Edwin A. Gomes (D-23) A
Sen. Anthony Guglielmo (R-35) O
Rep. John W. Hetherington (R-125) S
Rep. Ernest Hewett (D-39) O
Rep. Evelyn C. Mantilla (D-4) O
Rep. Melissa M. Olson (D-46) O
Sen. Edith G. Prague (D-19) O
Rep. Felipe Reinoso (D-130) O
Rep. Kevin Ryan (D-139) O
Rep. Zeke P. Zalaski (D-81) O