Oregon employee rights increased this past summer when the state legislature passed the Worker Freedom Act, allowing workers to refuse their employers’ attempts to “communicate the opinion of the employer about religious or political matters . . . .” Starting January 1, 2010, an employer may no longer:
discharge, discipline or otherwise penalize or threaten to discharge, discipline or otherwise penalize or take any adverse employment action against an employee . . . [w]ho declines to attend or participate in an employer-sponsored meeting or communication with the employer or the agent, representative or designee of the employer if the primary purpose of the meeting or communication [is to express the employer's perspective on unions or other political matters.]
A news release issued by one pro-business “tort reform” organization described the purpose of such employer communications as “to rebut union rhetoric and provide information about the drawbacks of a unionized workplace.” The same group this week filed suit in federal court in Oregon seeking to overturn the new unionizing law.
We find it hard to understand their objections. The new law will not interfere with employers who want to “offer meetings, forums or other communications about religious or political matters for which attendance or participation is strictly voluntary.” It will simply keep employers from forcing workers to listen to their views by the unstated threat of retaliation if employees refuse. As Oregon state senator Diane Rosenbaum, the new law’s chief sponsor, has explained, “What this bill says is you can hold these meetings. You just can’t force people to attend.”
If you or a loved one have faced workplace discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or termination, Portland employment discrimination lawyer Dane Johnson offers a free case evaluation. Contact the Law Office of Dane E. Johnson toll free at (800) 714-3204 or use our convenient online attorney contact form.
Related Web Resources
Ted Sickinger, Oregon Business Group Sues to Block Unionizing Law, Oregonian (Dec. 22, 2009).
Kris Maher, Unions Push Issues in State Capitals, Wall St. Journal (Nov. 11, 2009).
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