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Such meetings, known as captive audience meetings, are widely used by companies to convince workers that they'd be better off without a union.Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama These bills have been cheered by labor organizers who welcome the added protections for workers, and derided by business groups who call them employer gag orders.
Many of the painters, including Hilario Becerra, quickly signed union cards, excited about potentially doubling their hourly wage and gaining health insurance through a union contract.But then management stepped in, hiring a Spanish-speaking consultant, according to the union. A couple times a week, instead of heading to their job sites, painters were brought into the office in groups and paid to listen to anti-union messaging. The meetings went on for as long as three hours.
"Unfortunately, we couldn't win," says Becerra, blaming the incessant anti-union talk for the union's loss.Even as Illinois' measure is signed into law, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business are challenging similar laws in other states.