NLRB Targets Company for Limiting Workers’ Internet and Blog Comments
The National Labor Relations Board has filed a complaint against a company that fired a union worker who made negative comments about her supervisor on Facebook.
The NLRB complaint alleges the ambulance company has an overly broad Internet and blogging policy that interferes with its employees’ right to engage in protected activity, according to The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times. The policy bars employees from making disparaging remarks about the company, American Medical Response of Connecticut Inc., or its supervisors. Workers are also barred from depicting the company in any way on the Internet without permission.
American Medical Reponse fired Dawnmarie Souza after she made a negative remark about her supervisor on her Facebook page, drawing supportive responses from workers, according to The BLT account. Souza posted the criticism after the company refused to provide her with union representation during an investigation of a consumer complaint.
The NLRB complaint says union representation should have been provided.
American Medical Response gave a statement to The BLT saying the allegations are without merit and the Facebook comments are not the only reason Souza was fired. “The termination decision was actually based on multiple, serious issues,” the statement said.
