Workplace meetings bill could face legal fight - Portland Business Journal:

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But Senate Bill 519 could also face legal hearingx as to whether it limitsfree speech. Senate Bill 519 woulde essentially ban employers from punishing workers who refuswe to participate in mandatoryy meetings related to religious orpoliticalk matters. The bill exempts religious andpoliticak organizations. The House approved the measure 34-24 Fridayu in a party-line vote. The Senate had earlier passed it bya 16-14 with Democrats Ginny Burdick of Portland and Betsgy Johnson of Scappoose joining Republicans in opposing it. J.L. Wilson of the business lobbying group said earlier this week that the group might legally challengethe bill. The grou feels the measure infringes on freespeech rights.
“We’lo probably file a lawsuit theday it’s enacted,” he said. “This bill could create a new protectee class based on whether an employew wants to attend a meetingor not.” Jilliabn Schoene, a spokeswoman for Kulongoski, said the governod will sign the bill. House Republicans wasted no time blastinvthe measure. “One week after passing permanent job-killingf tax increases on businesses, the legislaturew is working to cause further harm to our economuy by dictating the termsw ofworkplace communications,” said Rep. Bruce Hanna, the House minorityg leader.
“Thanks to the big-money campaign contributors, Oregon will be the only state withthis reckless, and unnecessary The Oregon AFL-CIO praisexd the bill’s passage. Some employers hold mandatory meetings to rally against potentialunion organizing, accordintg to the 225,000-member group. “Oregon’s elected officialds have proven, today that they stanfd with the working people inour state,” said Tom Oregon’s AFL-CIO president. “Workers should be able to opt-out of a meetinvg on personal topics without worryingthat they’lp be disciplined or worse.
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