RE: Tech Writer Lawsuit; STC position? (take II)

["Sean Brierley" <sbrierley -at- Accu-Time -dot- com>]

Dood, you commented publicly ....

___________
Sean Brierley
Technical Writer
www.accu-time.com



-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+sbrierley=accu-time -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+sbrierley=accu-time -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Tammy Van Boening
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 11:11 AM
To: Geoff Hart; techwr-l List; Dan Goldstein
Subject: RE: Tech Writer Lawsuit; STC position? (take II)


As an officer in my local STC chapter, I received this email about the
TW lawsuit directly from the STC:

STC's Policy to Decline Public Comment on Pending Lawsuits


STC has been contacted about a pending lawsuit between current and
former technical writers and Sun Microsystems. This case revolves around
the issue of whether or not technical writers are exempt or nonexempt
employees. 

Regardless of the merits of the case on either side, STC's attorney
advises against commenting on matters pending litigation. This includes
declining to provide names of members to comment on pending litigation. 

Therefore, if you are contacted to comment or asked to give names of
individuals for interviews, please cite the policy, decline to comment
and do not provide names for interviews. Also, please communicate the
policy to anyone who has a position of responsibility within your
chapter (i.e., member of the administrative council, PR, Employment
Manager and so forth) to avoid any individual with an official STC title
commenting on the case. 

Thank you very much. 


I am just wondering - legally, does STC have a leg to stand on this last
request, specifically in regards to providing an interview? I am locally
elected officer in an at will public professional group. As long as I
specifically state the opinions are mine and do not reflect the STC's in
any way, I don't see how legally they can make this request of members
- membership and serving your local chapter doesn't seem to give STC the
blatant right to censure what one says.

I am curious as to your thoughts (Dan, Bill, Geoff, etc.) on this as
everyone on this list is so articulate and well-spoken.
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