Oregon Senate Passes SB 519

I have overheard our new Director, Phil Lesch (no, not that one) say that we are entering a new golden age for unions. As a bit of evidence on the homefront, yesterday, the Oregon Senate passed Diane Rosenbaum's SB 519, which protects workers from workplace pressure.

In a highly contentious vote, today, the Oregon Senate protected Oregonians' right to opt out of meetings on highly personal topics like politics, religion and union organizing at the work place. Workers in Oregon who have chosen not to attend these meetings have faced discipline or even lay offs for their decision. SB 519, the Worker Freedom Act, would allow workers to opt out of these meetings without fear of retaliation.

Workers should not have to give up their opinions or be lectured about their employers beliefs to get a paycheck. Most Oregonians want to show up at the workplace, do a good job at their work, get along with their co-workers and their employer, and go home to see their family at the end of the day. But when employer's take advantage of their workers by forcing them to sit through meetings on personal topics trying to earn a paycheck becomes a chore, not a job. In fact, 84% of Oregonians polled in December support legislation to allow workers to opt-out of these meetings.

The bill now moves on to the House.