University of California/Los Angeles library assistant Jonnie Hargis and a union representative met with UCLA administrators November 20 to negotiate a grievance over the 22-year employee’s weeklong suspension without pay in September after he posted a mass e-mail message criticizing American policy in the Middle East. “I did get my pay back and I did get an apology,” Hargis told American Libraries, but “they didn’t acknowledge any wrongdoing.”
The Coalition of University Employees wants an “admission of fraudulent and unethical and probably illegal activities,” Hargis said, and is demanding that the administration establish a program of antidiscrimination training for library staff. He wants the university to admit that the policy against political messages he was accused of violating was created after the alleged offense. He also claims his supervisors have retaliated by, among other things, shortening his hours on the reference desk and assigning him to meaningless tasks. Accusing his superiors of “slander and libel,” Hargis said he will take the case to arbitration if necessary and is “in the process of seeking an attorney.”
Hargis said he received a letter of apology dated October 15 from Rita Scherrei, library human resources director, and Janice Koyama, associate university librarian for public services. Maintaining that it is UCLA policy not to comment on personnel matters, neither administrator would discuss the case with AL.
Posted November 26, 2001.