In 2012, a union for Boeing
workers filed a complaint alleging that the company violated employee rights by
photographing union marches. The union also challenged the company’s blanket rule
barring workers from using personal cameras at work without a special permit.
On December 15th,
the National Labor Relations Board approved the company rule on a 3-2 vote
(with Pres. Trump’s new appointees tipping the balance).
Earlier, a judge ruled
against Boeing. Applying a long-standing precedent, Judge Etchingham said
workers could interpret being videotaped and not being allowed to take pictures
themselves as interfering with their right to organize and improve working
conditions.
The ruling puts workers at an informational disadvantage in
our age of social media. With this change in the law, employers can upload photos and video while negatively commenting on union marches and protests—but if a worker wants to take a photo of
an OSHA violation at work, she can be fired for violating the no camera rule.
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