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★阿修羅♪
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要約
米国アイオワ州の会社ACTが、「反戦バッジを職場で着用した」という理由で社員を
解雇。会社の規則は「イラク戦争に関する政治的メッセージを主張することは禁止
するが、星条旗を掲げることはOK」。会社側は「イラク戦争には賛成の人も反対の人
もいる。職場にそれを持ち込むと職場が分裂してしまう」とコメント。バッジは1
999年アイオワ大学で入手したもので、「世界は戦争にNOと言っている。平和と正義
のために力をあわせよう」と書いてある。
iraqwar.ruのニュースサイト（ロシア軍事情報もここにアップされていました）
がピックアップした記事。このサイトは阿修羅戦争掲示板とおなじコンセプトで、
世界のニュースからの転載記事をコンパイルしています。
http://www1.iraqwar.ru/iraq-read_article.php?articleId=2293&lang=en
元記事はデイリー・アイオワン
http://www.dailyiowan.com/
の
ACT fires worker for antiwar button
by: Amy Jennings - The Daily Iowan4/8/2003
ですが、記事を読むには登録が必要です。
American Company fires worker for antiwar button
09.04.2003 [07:59]
A former ACT employee says her supervisor fired her last week for
refusing to remove an antiwar button from her shirt in the workplace.
Sarah Townsend said supervisor Chris McPherren terminated her
employment and escorted her from the building after she defied a company
policy that prohibits political statements about the war on Iraq in the
workplace but allows displaying the American flag.
Townsend said she had worked for the not-for-profit
educational-testing and research company for seven months as a temporary
employee. She was planning to leave the company in eight weeks to attend
graduate school before the April 4 firing, she said.
"People who don't say, 'Rah, rah, support the war' are told they have
to shut up," said Townsend, 25. "It was obvious in that environment that a
pro-war attitude was acceptable, while a pro-peace mindset was not."
Two ACT employees confirmed Monday that Townsend was fired for not
removing the button. A company spokesman said it could not discuss personnel
issues.
The button that got the 1999 UI alumna allegedly booted reads, "The
world says no to war. United for peace and justice."
Ken Gullette, the ACT director of media relations, said Jim Friel, the
company's assistant vice president of human relations, sent an e-mail in
March stating that the Iowa City-based company, which employs 1,300 workers
nationwide, respects its employees' diverse opinions but feels the
expression of political sentiments in the workplace is inappropriate.
The Daily Iowan obtained a copy of Friel's e-mail from Townsend, a
portion of which reads:
"... ACT does not condone in the workplace any outward display pro or
con in relation to the conflict in Iraq. This workplace must exhibit the
corporate values of mutual respect and courteous relationships. I ask that
you please approach employees with buttons or other displays and instruct
them to remove them. They are free to discuss and promote their views
outside of the workplace. American flag lapel pins are permitted since they
reflect no outward political statement."
"Different people in the workplace have different feelings, both pro
and con, about the war," Gullette said. "When you bring those in, it tends
to divide the workplace."
He said he did not know the name or names of any employees who may
have experienced problems with the policy and could not comment on any
personnel records.
Townsend said she will likely file a complaint with the Iowa City
Human Rights Commission in hopes of forcing ACT to change its policy.
"I think it doesn't give its employees enough credit; they are
entirely capable of expressing different opinions and dealing with these
types of disagreements in a civil manner at work," she said.
Townsend, who was offered a job at ACT in September 2002 after working
there from October 2000 to January 2001, also said she intends to send a
letter to the company and explore the options of legal redress.
"If my pin is considered a threat, then maybe we should ask what the
flag, the supposed banner of freedom, really stands for," she said.
Townsend, a registered independent who is not affiliated with any
peace organizations, said she did not receive the e-mail containing the
policy until she skimmed a copy of the memo provided by a coworker two weeks
ago.
Some workers fashioned mini-displays on cubicle walls that included an
American flag pin accompanied by patriotic quotes, while others wore
T-shirts depicting the flag without penalty, Townsend said. Other political
statements, including a bumper sticker with a message about prayer in public
schools, appear on cubicles without reprisals, she said.
While that's enough for Townsend to consider some form of action, she
said she doesn't want her job back.
Randall Wilson, the legal director of the Iowa Civil Liberties Union,
said Townsend's may be a lost cause. The First Amendment prevents only state
and federal governments, not private businesses, from formulating policies
that impair a citizen's right to free speech, he said.
"What [ACT] did probably does not violate any laws," he said, adding
that as long as their grounds are not illegal, such as racial
discrimination, private employers don't need a reason to fire employees.
Townsend, who wore her pin every day since obtaining it at a peace
rally in New York City on March 22, said McPherren asked to see the pin
during an April 3 meeting. McPherren declined to comment.
"[McPherren] didn't say anything else about [the pin] the rest of the
day or most of Friday either," Townsend said. "I assumed she forgot about
it."
After explaining a project that would keep Townsend occupied the eight
remaining weeks she was scheduled to work at ACT, Townsend said McPherren
told her to remove the pin or face being sent home.
"I tried to spell out more clearly that I wasn't trying to send out
propaganda or pressure anyone to adopt my views," Townsend said. "But I told
her if I had to take it off, I guess I would go home."
Townsend said McPherren then told her that her action meant the
termination of her employment with ACT, asked for her identification badge,
and escorted her out of the building.
"I'm not angry for my own sake but that they are allowed to put limits
on people's freedoms," said Townsend, a 1999 UI graduate with degrees in
Spanish and English. She will start work on a graduate degree in Spanish at
New York University next fall.
UI law Professor Randall Bezanson, an expert on the First Amendment,
said Iowa does not have laws that prevent private business owners from
restricting the free speech of employees.
"If private business owners chose to have their employees wear
American flag lapel pins, they could do that under the First Amendment," he
said.
The Daily Iowan
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