[OPEUreppms] Political Communications

[HARRUP Lois M * DAS HRSD]

TO:           HR Managers - SEIU Represented Agencies

 

 

SEIU National Director Andy Stern has sent a political message via state
e-mail to some state employees advocating for a presidential candidate
and urging employees to campaign on his behalf.  Leslie Frane, Executive
Director of Oregon's SEIU local, became aware of these communications
and contacted me yesterday.  She assured me that the political
communications did not come from the SEIU local office.  Leslie
contacted the SEIU national office yesterday about the inappropriateness
of the political communications. 

 

The Oregon Attorney General recently provided a reminder on political
activities by state employees. He cited ORS 260.432 as the applicable
statute.  The following notice is contained in that law:

 

ATTENTION ALL PUBLIC EMPLOYEES:

 

            The restrictions imposed by the law of the State of Oregon
on your political activities are that "no public employee shall solicit
any money, influence, service or other thing of value or otherwise
promote or oppose any political committee or promote or oppose the
nomination or election of a candidate, the gathering of signatures on an
initiative, referendum or recall petition, the adoption of a measure or
the recall of a public office holder while on the job during working
hours.  However, this section does not restrict the right of a public
employee to express personal political views."

            It is therefore the policy of the state and of your public
employer that you may engage in political activity except to the extent
prohibited by state law when on the job during working hours.

 

You may decide whether or not to forward this communication to
management and/or employees of your agency. 

 

 

Eva M Corbin

Deputy Administrator, Labor Relations unit

DAS - Human Resource Services Division

Office Number (503) 378-8321

Facsimile Number (503) 373-7530

 

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