WASHINGTON, D.C./May 24, 2018 – The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) today announced that it has reached disciplinary action settlements with two U.S. Postal Service employees who violated the Hatch Act in October 2016. Both employees work in the same post office in Ashtabula, Ohio.
The first employee violated the Hatch Act’s prohibition against engaging in political activity while on duty and in the federal workplace when he brought campaign signs promoting a presidential candidate into the post office. He had obtained them from his union to distribute to other union members, but was advised not to distribute the signs at work. Nonetheless, he announced during a morning staff meeting that the union had endorsed the candidate, and he had signs in his workspace for anyone who was interested. In a settlement agreement, he agreed to serve a 30-day suspension for his violation.
The next morning, post office employees received a briefing on the Hatch Act. The second employee, who supported a different presidential candidate, then filmed himself inside of his postal vehicle and posted the video to Facebook. In it, he identified himself as a postal employee, criticized the presidential candidate whom the union had endorsed, and praised the candidate he supported. He concluded by stating, “I don’t care about this Hatch law. If I lose my job, so be it. But I want my country back.” OSC also discovered that the second employee had posted several other messages that either supported or opposed a presidential candidate while he was on duty or in his postal vehicle. The settlement agreement provides that he will serve a 60-day suspension for his knowing and willful Hatch Act violations.
OSC Issues Hatch Act Social Media Guidance, Announces Postal Worker Hatch Act Violation Over Social Media Use at Work
USPS: Hatch Act’s social media guidelines explained – USPS updates PS Form 3971, Request for or Notification of Absence
Wisconsin letter carrier to testify at Senate Hearing on political campaigning by postal workers
Postal Workers Campaign Activity while on Leave under Investigation
They didn’t suspend anyone for wearing Obama or anti Trump shirts at work
Not too smart.
I sure it wasn’t my beautiful president Trump’s sign
Was the candidate,at this”post office”,in Ohio;Hillary Clinton,or Donald Trump? And what”union”(local),was it? My guess is that it was the APWU,with the instigation of their national APWU president;Mark Dimondstein. I’ve always hated his partisan Leftist politics. Past APWU presidents,knew better. Whatever,labor need to avoid clearly partisan politics,without regard to whether;they are Left-wing or Right-wing. Ideological-purity offends,all more Rational and honestly more Intelligent humankinds.
We all know what would have transpired if the employees had supported Mr. Terrific. However, since they supported the woman that did in fact win the election by almost three million votes, they must be punished. just another indication that shows one must lie, cheat, and steal to get ahead in America! Everything will be great after the tax payer pays thirty million for the upcoming military parade in Washington.
Idiots
You can’t fix stupid and this is a clear representation of “dumb and dumber”. I’m a political and hate to think either of these employees was paid with taxpayer dollars while campaigning (so to speak) for either of the two Presidential candidate in the last election.
Govt violating first amendments rights
Wow! Too bad they didn’t catch the Liberal workers that brought in all the Odumba shirts and propaganda at my office 11 years ago…. hmmmmm…. funny how that works