Report: “2 Library Workers Sue New Orleans, Claim Criticism Stifled By Social Media Policy”

UPDATE: The complaint filed in the case can be accessed here (full text).
(via CourtListener)

From NOLA.com:

Two public library workers have filed a federal lawsuit against the city of New Orleans, Mayor LaToya Cantrell and her top deputy, alleging that a June 2020 policy infringes on their free speech rights and threatens to punish them for any criticism they may express, even in their private lives.

Andrew Okun and Erin Wilson filed the suit Thursday, claiming they initially balked at the new policy when it was announced in June but were required to sign onto it in August to keep their jobs. Both library employees are active on social media in their private time and are concerned the broad language of the new policy will prevent them from expressing certain beliefs or concerns.

City Chief Administrative Officer Gilbert Montano issued revisions to Policy No. 83(R), on June 17, 2020, that specifically addressed employees’ use of social media, including what employees can say on private messaging channels such as Slack and Discord or while playing online video games at home. It bans employees from “engaging or responding to negative or disparaging posts about city departments, employees or policies.”

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Filed under: Jobs, Libraries, News, Public Libraries