Law to restrain Peeping Tom bosses

>Archive - PWW Print Edition Archive - 2005 Editions - Feb 19, 2005


 

WASHINGTON (PAI) — It’s no secret employers spy on workers during organizing drives, and often set up cameras in bathrooms, changing rooms and locker rooms to ferret out pro-union activity. Now, a bill supported by the Communications Workers of America has been introduced by Reps. Thomas Petri (R-Wis.) and Rob Andrews (D-N.J.) to put an end to that practice.

“Unfortunately, there have been a number of cases where employers have been caught engaging in secret surveillance of employees in areas where workers have a reasonable expectation of privacy,” Petri said. The Employee Changing Room Privacy Act, HR 582, was introduced by Petri, chairman of the House Employer-Employee Relations subcommittee, and Andrews, its top Democrat, after 19 locomotive engineers sued their railroad for putting a camera in an exit sign, and a college worker discovered her boss videotaped her changing in her office.

The legislation would fine an employer $10,000 per violation and let the Labor Department sue to stop the surveillance.