Photos Posted for Women's History Month Violate Federal Law, Ashe-Nadrowski Claims - TAPinto.net
BAYONNE, NJ - Social media posts of female Bayonne public employees in celebration of Women’s History Month has prompted the campaign of mayoral candidate Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski to file a complaint claiming Mayor Jimmy Davis violated a federal law.
The Hatch Act, a federal law passed in 1939, limits certain political activities of federal employees, as well as some state, D.C., and local government employees who work in connection with federally funded programs. The law’s purpose is to ensure that federal programs are administered in a nonpartisan fashion, to protect federal employees from political coercion in the workplace, and to ensure that federal employees are advanced based on merit and not based on political affiliation.
The complaint was filed against Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis after an employee group called Female Workers of City of Bayonne issued a formal complaint to the City of Bayonne’s Human Resources Director, Business Administrator, the Office of the Mayor and City Council. It cited that starting March 1 Davis and city employees who are also his political supporters, were improperly taking and publishing photos of female city employees and sharing them on the mayor’s political and personal social media pages, while the workers were at city hall during the work day.
The employee group cited feeling uncomfortable and feared retribution if they refused to be in the pictures.
"Here is yet another example of the disrespect of residents and workers rooted in the Davis Administration," Ashe-Nadrowski said in a statement. “The residents of Bayonne deserve a Mayor who is always going to prioritize working to solve the important issues in our city like improving our trash collection services, parking concerns, affordability, and crime. Not focused on photo opps that raise his political profile with political outsiders at the expense of our city employee’s”
Phil Swibinski, spokesperson for the Davis campaign, disputed the allegation.
“In the first place, the Hatch Act only covers federal employees,” he said, adding that the postings had nothing to do with the campaign.
Swibinski continued that the postings were highlighting the work of female employees in conjunction with Women’s History Month. The women were asked if they wanted their photo taken, and those who appeared volunteered to take part, he added.
“The posting does not say anything political or encourage people to vote for Mayor Davis,” Swibinski said. “This was about women who work in city hall every day and their positive experience.”
The original posting appeared on the city’s official website as part of Women’s History Month celebrations, and that link was shared on other social media sites, including Davis’ personal Facebook page.
source: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/bayonne/sections/elections/articles/photos-posted-for-women-s-history-month-violate-federal-law-ashe-nadrowski-claims
Your content is great. However, if any of the content contained herein violates any rights of yours, including those of copyright, please contact us immediately by e-mail at media[@]kissrpr.com.