Union president warns proposed staff expression policy could curb organizing, speech

DJ Bridal, president of the Tumwater Education Association, urged the Tumwater School District board to reconsider adoption of Policy 5254, saying the discretionary model policy as drafted could limit employees' rights and grant administrators broad disciplinary authority.

"Policy 5 2 5 4 limits our union organizing for, every bargaining unit in Tumwater, and the first amendment speeds protections as employees," Bridal said, arguing the policy "gives the board of directors and the superintendent the power to arbitrarily discipline employees, leading up to termination of employment, for taking part in union activity, and exercising our rights to free speech under the First Amendment." Bridal asked the board to clarify who decides whether an employee's expression adversely impacts district operations and what standards would guide discipline.

Bridal framed the concern as both immediate and long term: because a discretionary policy stays with the district, future boards and superintendents could use its language to restrict organizing. They urged the board to consider model alternatives and to ensure the policy does not shift the burden of managing public perception onto employees.

Board members asked clarifying questions and several suggested reviewing the district's existing civility policy (Policy 51.17) as a possible way to address some concerns without adopting 5254 in its current form. The discussion prompted staff and trustees to indicate they would compare existing policies and return with suggested language or alternatives at a future meeting.