Catherwood LibraryILR School

Two years ago Oregon state temporarily forbid its employees from using work emails to discuss union matters during the length of an impasse in negotiations between the state and SEIU. The restriction has been determined by the Oregon Employment Relations Board to be an ?unfair labor practice? because the state unilaterally changed a mandatory policy without negotiating with the union. The Board reasoned that email is even more important today than ?yesterday?s bulletin board, water cooler, or mail room?, and that email is necessary for employees to discuss wages, working conditions, and terms of employment. The state had voluntarily ceased enforcing the ban on union-related emails prior to the decision and will not appeal the decision.