Critical email costs secretary her job (fired by Omaha Police Union)

http://www.omaha.com/article/20091122/NEWS01/711229866

Published Sunday November 22, 2009

By Todd Cooper
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

A judge called it ironic.

This summer, Michele McJunkin, a secretary for the Omaha police union, sent a City Council member an anonymous e-mail critical of the “generous” compensation packages given to both the police and fire unions. She did so from her personal e-mail account on her home computer, using the name “Christine.”

The council member, Jean Stothert, forwarded the e-mail on to Omaha Police Union President Aaron Hanson, who recognized the e-mail address and eventually verified that the e-mail had come from McJunkin, a 16-year employee.

Hanson, with the vote of his board, then gave McJunkin a choice: Resign or be fired.

Flash back four years, to March 2005: Then-Omaha Police Chief Thomas Warren fires Sgt. Kevin Housh after Housh writes in a union newsletter that city leaders were “acting like petty criminals trying to conceal some kind of crime.”

The union holds rallies for Housh and files a lawsuit on his behalf, saying his statements were “protected union speech” and that the firing of Housh “chilled” the free speech of other union members.

In the end, the union succeeds in its fight to get Housh his job back.

“It seems ironic that (union) members were able to openly challenge the City of Omaha whenever the members believed their interests were at stake,” wrote a labor judge who reviewed McJunkin’s case. “But (the union) would deny its own employee the right to anonymously address an issue of public interest.”

FULL story at link.

I have several. My name is not on them. And to really ensure remaining anonymous, I don't post from my home ISP.