WASHINGTON – The National Retail Federation today issued the following statement from Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel Stephanie Martz after joining a coalition of employer associations in suing Connecticut over its newly passed restrictions on employer speech.
“The Connecticut law is clearly preempted by the National Labor Relations Act. Moreover, it violates employers’ free speech rights under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. As the Supreme Court has repeatedly held, Americans do not lose their right to free speech when they form themselves into corporations."
The lawsuit was filed jointly in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut by NRF, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Associated Builders and Contractors, Associated Builders and Contractors of Connecticut, Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, Connecticut Business & Industry Association, Connecticut Retail Merchants Association, National Association of Home Builders, and National Federation of Independent Business.
About NRF
The National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association, passionately advocates for the people, brands, policies and ideas that help retail thrive. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail is the nation’s largest private-sector employer, contributing $3.9 trillion to annual GDP and supporting one in four U.S. jobs – 52 million working Americans. For over a century, NRF has been a voice for every retailer and every retail job, educating, inspiring and communicating the powerful impact retail has on local communities and global economies. nrf.com
