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Maryland Teamsters Call on Lawmakers to End Mandatory Captive Audience Meetings
Wrongfully Terminated Worker Describes Being Subjected to Abuse, Termination
Teamsters gathered in Annapolis earlier this week to testify in favor of HB 802, a bill in the Maryland Legislature that would ban forced attendance at captive audience meetings. The purpose of a captive audience meeting is for an employer to convince workers not to join a union, usually through intimidation, false promises and outright lies.
“This legislation is critical to enforcing the principles of economic democracy and free speech on the job,” said Sean Cedenio, President of Teamsters Joint Council 62. “This bill is a significant step towards creating a fairer process for those seeking union representation.”
“Employers love to tell workers that they don’t need a union. If that’s true, why do so many of them subject their workforce to draconian, debasing propaganda as soon as they hear of an organizing drive?” said Rudy Gardner, President of Teamsters Joint Council 55. “We extend our gratitude to all the lawmakers who are supporting this legislation, particularly Delegates Joe Vogel, Lorig Charkoudian and Vaughn Stewart. We urge Maryland lawmakers and Gov. Wes Moore to swiftly enact this into law.”
Brandon King is a former R.E. Michel worker who sought to organize a union at the company. During his testimony, King told the committee about an incident where his employer allowed a staff member to viciously chastise him in front of his coworkers at a captive audience meeting while the company stood by and did nothing to stop it. In a matter of weeks following the meeting, King said he was terminated with the employer violating numerous federally protected union activities.
“How many more people does this have to happen to before our state and federal leaders stand up and stop companies from illegally intimidating workers?” King said. “Companies have been able to bully, threaten, and destroy livelihoods, all because someone like me wants a union.”