Employers today are using computers to communicate directly with employees and letting employees communicate with each other. On paper, the ability to communicate quickly and effectively allows for employers to get work done in ways never dreamed of ten years ago. For example, that old-fashioned paper memo can now be delivered electronically in an instant.

So what's the problem?

When we use electronic mail, or e-mail, on an employer's computer, we are not guaranteed any rights of privacy. Most employers use computer systems that are tied to a central computer. That means that any message you write may end up on the company's hard drive. Some 38 percent of companies recently surveyed monitor, store and review e-mail on a regular basis. What you create or simply forward may be read by the boss. And don't think that the delete button can save you. In at least one case, the employer was able to dig up deleted e-mail off the hard drive and discipline the authors of the e-mail.

Even if you send an e-mail through the Internet, each computer system it travels through makes a copy of the e-mail.

Also, many companies monitor employees' use of the Internet. Fifty-four percent of companies surveyed this year reply that they regularly monitor employees' Internet connections. About 29 percent of employers surveyed block access to what they deem to be "inappropriate" Web sites.

Two cases should sober us all up about e-mail use. During the summer, Dow Chemical fired 50 workers and suspended 200 others for sending and storing e-mails that included materials ranging from swimsuit photos to hard core pornography and violent images. Those disciplined included union members and supervision.

Citibank was sued a few years back by two employees who claimed that supervisors were exchanging e-mail that included racist and abusive ethnic jokes.

Labor law questions dealing with these issues are slowly being resolved through the NLRB and courts. But none of our members should put themselves in the position of becoming test cases.

So here's some basic advice about using company computers.

• Do not conduct union business on company computers unless the local union has an agreement with the employer as to the type of labor-management activity that the computer can be used for. If, for example, a local has an agreement about filing grievances electronically, that should be the extent of using company computers for union business. Remember, you cannot be sure of what will end up on company servers for the boss to see.
• Keep all confidential union information off the company computer.
• Locals should have complete control over any communications that it uses for union business. Some of our locals have created sophisticated means of electronic communications, including web pages and e-mail. Consult with the International if you need help.
• Your password does not guarantee privacy against employer monitoring.
• Assume someone else will read any e-mail you send on a company computer.
• Labeling e-mail private and confidential does not guarantee it will be treated as such.
• Do not transmit anything offensive or view anything offensive you receive.
• If you receive any questionable e-mail on a company computer, delete it immediately. Don't forward it.
• Surf the Web at home, not on the job.
• Play it safe. Do not use company computers for personal business, period.

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