County Staffers and Protest Rally

Are we living in America? What happened to the 1st Amendment right to freedom of speech? The county of Ventura’s top personnel manager says to refuse employees’ vacation time to attend a protest rally.

The reason for this action is the county should not have to pay for us to attend a protest rally.

I work for the county.

For every hour an employee works for the county, they are given vacation time.

We use the vacation time to spend time with family, take trips, get the car fixed, and yes, to attend the protest rally! By disallowing my vacation time for the protest rally, the county would be discriminating against my right to peaceful protest.

I use the word “discriminating” since the county would not deny my vacation time for a peaceful demonstration for “civil rights” or “save the planet” rallies. They would encourage us to attend. Only the self-serving mind-set that is county government says, “While employees have the right to do these sorts of things, we don’t have to finance them!”

“Also, employees who take time off without permission are subject to leave without pay and discipline,” says Barbara Journet, county human resources director. My question is, if you will not let us have our vacation time or be allowed to take leave without pay, then how can I peacefully protest the county of Ventura’s actions in our bargaining process?

Richard Paschal

SEIU Local 998