The Internet can be used for many purposes but, according to Commissioner Terri White of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, free speech and right of assembly is not one of them
Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes clearly indicates state employees are guaranteed the right to hold meetings on state property in a location that does not disrupt the operations of the agency. However, White has apparently ordered a crack-down on OPEA leaders across the state who have expressed opinions about the privatization of mental health service both in emails and publicly.
Specifically, an incident involving an OPEA member occurred in May. An employee at a community mental health center was deprived of the right to meet with other workers on personal time to engage in a group meeting for a common purpose. DMHSAS responded by disbanding the meeting and denying the rights of the employees to meet.
OPEA’s law firm quickly took action against DMHSAS with a letter warning Commissioner White that her actions will not be tolerated. Fellers Snider attorney Carol Houghton issued the warning demanding DMHSAS cease from any other efforts to prohibit the right of employees to associate and assemble.
White took further action as OPEA leaders from DMHSAS fought her efforts to privatize state services, not only in DMHSAS (HB2999), but also for all state employees in SB 1600. White issued a cease and desist email concerning communications made through the DMHSAS electronic mail system. In particular, it was noted that there had been and “increase in prohibited emails, such as pertaining to solicitations and political activities.” Houghton noted in the firm’s letter to White that according to DMHSAS policy, employees are free to use the electronic email for personal use (DMHSAS Policy 4.1). Houghton warns White that she cannot discriminate on the content of a personal email simply because it doesn’t agree with the social platform.
OPEA turned the table on Commissioner White by requesting through the Oklahoma Open Records Act, White’s electronic correspondence. The letter was sent on June 3rd and as of the writing of this article, White has failed to respond. What is she hiding?
OPEA has sent a second request for her email records dated June 28 and urges Commissioner White to obey the law and produce the documents.
To view the letter from OPEA’s attorney to Commissioner White click here.
Posted on
Wed, June 30, 2010
by Trish Frazier