NFFE wants GSA to change social media policy

Union says agency\'s policy infringes on free speech of federal employees.

The fight continues over the use of social media tools at the Government Services Administration.

The National Federation of Federal Employees calls the agency’s social media directive a blast to free speech.

Talks between the two groups dissolved last Friday after failing to reach agreement. A federal mediator will be brought in to help referee future meetings.

Charles Paidock is the vice president of NFFE at GSA National Council, and says his organization is not opposed to social media, but has problems with parts of GSA’s policy.

“It says any sort of message . . . that can be construed as a personal attack [could lead] to discipline. So, if you have some disagreement with a co-worker or a supervisor it could be interpreted as a personal attack. There’s also language in there [about] endorsement of political parties, candidates or groups. There’s existing language [in the] Hatch Act [but] what does endorsement mean [when it comes to social media]? Then, they’re saying you can be identified as a representative of the agency at any given time, even [if] you don’t identify yourself as such.”

Federal News Radio told you last year about the policy, which gives employees the permission and parameters for using Web 2.0 tools, such as Facebook, Twitter and Flickr, for official agency business.

NFFE has proposed some changes and presented them to GSA.

Perhaps what is most disturbing, Paidock says, is the language that says there is no expectation of privacy. This is why his organization wants to make sure that employees are protected from disciplinary actions when they’re off the clock, but online.

“Let’s address all of these issues. Let’s embrace the future. These tools can be very useful in the workplace . . . But I have to have assurance that employees have the right to pursue their private lives without interference by the employer.”

He does acknowledge, though, that one does have to be careful online, no matter what.

“You have to be cautious in communicating. . . . I’ve got thousands of people sitting at terminals for eight hours a day — now it’s 24 hours a day — and anything they post can result in the end of [a] career. That’s got to be hemmed in a little bit. We’ve got to give it greater definition.”

GSA and NFFE have not been able to reach an agreement about that language, however.

Federal News Radio asked GSA about this issue and got the following statement from a spokesperson via email:

“GSA encourages the use of social media technologies to enhance communication, collaboration, and information exchange in support of GSA’s mission. GSA is currently in negotiations with NFFE to go through normal labor management processes to reach resolution. Last fall, GSA successfully completed negotiations with another labor organization representing GSA employees on this same issue.”

Email the author of this post at dramienski@federalnewsradio.com

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