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Public Employee Press
Public Service Announcement HRA
e-mail alert
HRA employees
have recently been subjected to disciplinary action regarding alleged personal
use of the agency e-mail system. Local 1549 and the DC 37 Clerical-Administrative
Division are making sure employees' rights are protected, but the union has issued
a warning to members: Be aware of the agency's official policy as stated in Executive
Order No. 655 and Procedure No. 99-09. The Human Resources Administration
issued the directive on the use of computer equipment and the e-mail system in
May, 2000, and redistributed it in October. The policy says:
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Agency equipment
and software may only be used for official HRA business. -
E-mail may not be used
to run or distribute games, screen savers, inspirational messages, jokes, movie
clips or advertisements. -
Employees may use only HRA-purchased software. No other
software may be installed. Games may not be installed on hard drives or operated
from diskettes or CDs. -
Personally owned equipment such as Palm Pilots, scanners,
laptops and modems may not be connected to the HRA network.
The agency stated directly: "Illicit
or inappropriate use of e-mail will result in disciplinary action. Use of HRA
e-mail for non-work related personal business is prohibited." HRA
also told workers e-mail messages on agency computers are neither personal nor
private and that employees should have no expectation of privacy in the e-mail
system. Members of Local 1549 who have additional questions about the
use of e-mail are encouraged to call the Clerical Division at (212) 815-1020 and
consult with their reps. If union members in other locals or in other
agencies are being hit with disciplinary action regarding their use of city e-mail
systems, they should contact their shop steward, union rep or local officer.
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