CNA memo violated employee rights, says NAPE president

A memo sent out by the College of the North Atlantic (CNA), preventing faculty and staff from attending a student town hall, violated employee rights, according to the president of a staff union.

The president of the college agrees, saying she has launched an investigation.

The town hall meeting was organized by the Canadian Federation of students for Newfoundland and Labrador (CFS-NL) to express concerns about possible cuts to education.

The president of the Newfoundland Association of Public Employees, Jerry Earle, said the memo — which was sent to all teaching and faculty staff, as well as support workers, a couple of weeks ago — reminded them of the policies around political activities.

He said many interpreted the note as a warning .

"The assumption was it was directed to tell people they could not attend a student town hall and could not voice their concerns," Earle told CBC's St. John's Morning Show.

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The union took a stand, said Earle, because members should be able to attend such an event, even if they just sit and listen, "and if they did attend that they should be able to be supportive of our students."

"I can understand an employer's concern, saying you can't do this during work hours … but somebody wishing to attend on their lunch break, after work hours, on a weekend, we would certainly encourage that and we would certainly support that, and that our members have that right," said Earle.

He said the college policy on political activity pertains to elections.

"Outside of elections, if there's going to be adverse effects, for example, come the budget, we would expect employees to be able to voice their concerns."

A mistake, says CNA boss

CNA president Ann Marie Vaughan shares Earle's concerns and said the memo should not have gone out.

Vaughn said it's her understanding that employees asked for clarification regarding attendance at the meeting and the campus administrator, who sent out the note, did not receive the best advice.

"I don't believe that the interpretation of the political activity policy of the college or government was correctly applied in this incidence," she told the St. John's Morning Show.

"I think it was an unusual occurrence ... a person sought advice and they weren't given the best of advice, so it's my intention to investigate this fully."

Vaughan said steps will be taken to ensure this doesn't happen again and she will communicate with staff to clarify the policy.

"Certainly, we wouldn't discourage faculty or staff promoting or participating or supporting our students in any regard. We think that's an important part of the higher education process and really, really regret that this situation happened," she said.

"I mean we have to walk a line in terms of what our political activity is but a participation in an event like this, clearly is not governed under the political activity policy."

Earle said he is pleased with the CNA's quick response and that staff will now be aware of their rights going forward.