Gannett vows 'serious measures' against 25 journalists who signed Walker recall petitions

[postulater]

19. I am disagreeing with the GAB policy of making the signatures public.

I am not disagreeing with the newspapers having the policy they do. Nor am I disagreeing with the newspapers disciplining the employees who agreed to the policy, when the company becomes aware that the employee violated the company policy.

However the employees have a right to their own politics. If the law would allow them to keep it private and if they follow the employer's guidelines on keeping their politics out of their work then there is no problem.

It only becomes a problem when the signatures are public since accusations of partiality, true or not, can become an issue on its' own.

If the employer does not have access to the signatures then they do not know who signed. And the employee should not be forced to implicate him/herself.

The GAB policy has implications for other situations besides those of the journalists. Other employers may not have a policy like the newspapers but may punish the signers anyway.

But like you said, that is not the way it is.