Dear Colleagues,
This week, when faculty members used PCC listservs to address urgent workplace issues, and to share concerns and possible solutions, they did the right thing. And they were well within their rights!
Have you ever wondered if you can use PCC email and listservs for:
- Discussing workplace issues
- Advocating on behalf of your coworkers
- Advocating for change or complaining to management as a group
- Circulating a letter or petition about work issues
- Talking about the union
- Encouraging people to participate in the union
- Union membership visibility, such as having “Proud FFAP Member” in your email signature
Well guess what? You absolutely can use your PCC email for all of those things, and more!
Last year, the Federation filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) complaint against then English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Program Dean Laura Horani after she chastised a group of faculty members for using the department’s listserv to advocate for students. Former Dean Horani said such complaints should be brought to management privately, not as a group, and not via the listserv.
However, we knew that our advocacy around that issue constituted legally-protected “concerted activity” which is when groups of employees act together to address work-related issues. Her interference with our concerted activity was illegal. As part of a settlement agreement reached between the Federation and the College, Former Dean Horani was required to email the ESOL SAC, stating explicitly that her interference was wrong and that faculty can use the listserv for concerted activity.
These rights are guaranteed to us by PECBA, the Oregon law that governs public sector unions. HB 2016 is an Oregon law that went into effect in 2020 and expanded protections around the use of employer email systems for union purposes.
So if you’re wondering if you can use your PCC email to advocate for yourselves and your coworkers—the answer is yes!
In solidarity,
Ben Cushing, FFAP President
Sociology Faculty, Cascade