NLRB Rules Employers May Prohibit Use of Work Emails For Union Activities

In a major reversal handed down yesterday, the National Labor Relations Board overruled a 2014 decision to hold that employers may prohibit employees from using their work emails for union activities. The case does not involve firefighters and the National Labor Relations Act does not apply to public employees. However...

Fire Department Email Addresses Versus Email Forwarding

Today’s burning question: From a legal stand point would it be better to use an email forwarding system that sends work emails to firefighters’ personal email addresses or to provide each member with a true email account with log in and server space?

Public Records and Electronic Communications

Today’s burning question: If a firefighter’s personal device such as a cellphone connects to a wireless network provided by a governmental agency, is the information transmitted automatically subject to the state’s public records law? Answer: Whether an electronic communication is a public record has nothing to do with how it is transmitted.

Use of Fire Department Email for Union Communications

Today’s burning question: Can my fire department prohibit me from sending a union related email to coworkers using the fire department’s email system? Answer: If your fire department is in a state that tends to follow the National Labor Relations Board, probably not!

Washington Captain Sues Over Termination for Religious Emails

The Spokane Valley captain fired in 2012 for refusing to stop sending religious emails over the fire department email system has filed suit claiming that his discipline and ultimate termination is the result of religious discrimination. Captain Jon Sprague started ...

Ohio Firefighter Files Discrimination Claim Over Nazi Salute

An Ohio firefighter who claims he was disciplined in retaliation for complaining about members giving a Nazi salute to the fire chief, has filed a formal complaint with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Firefighter Paul Way, a 28 ...

Spokane Valley Captain Pushing Right to Send Religious Emails

A Washington state fire captain is contesting discipline handed down over his use of the fire department email system to deliver religious messages. Spokane Valley Fire Department Captain Jon Sprague was suspended without pay for two 24-hour shifts for conduct ...

Mass Firefighter’s Work Email Use Escapes Election Law Citation

Fire department email accounts pose a number of hidden traps for firefighters. The most common email related cases involve violations of public records laws (discussed below) – but a recent Massachusetts case raises an unusual issue: the use of a ...

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