Whistleblower Fired In Montegro For Participation In Round Table

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Lindsey Williams

Sandra Obradovic, leader of Trade Union of Aluminum Plant of Podgorica (KAP) in Montenegro, was fired for participating in a round table organized by anti-corruption organization MANS (The Network for Affirmation of NGO Sector).  Ms. Obradovic is a strong advocate of compliance with labor laws and “green regulations” in her job, even though she faced constant pressure from management to stay silent on these issues.

At the round table, Ms. Obradovic spoke about the harassment she was experiencing at the workplace in front of the round table participants, which included members of the Montenegro government and several other reputable EU officials.  Ms. Obradovic timely informed her management that she would be leaving work that day to perform her trade union activities and was cleared to attend. As her discussion was widely publicized in the media, KAP was well aware of her participation as the trade union leader.

Management later fired Ms. Obradovic, claiming that she missed work due to private matters. Management also claimed that she was dishonest when she requested to have that time off. However, it is clear Sandra Obradovic was retaliated against for blowing the whistle on practices in her office, not for one day’s missed work.

Ms. Obradovic’s right to free speech has been violated, and MANS writes that this treatment is becoming the norm, instead of the exception in Montenegro. Now is the time for the government of Montenegro to take a stand for whistleblower rights, by protecting Ms. Obradovic and others like her who choose to come forward with the truth.

*Philip Barrett (NWC Intern) contributed to this post
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Hearing Tomorrow on the Protecting America's Workers Act

Posted on April 27, 2010 by Lindsey Williams

The Workforce Protections Subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee will be holding a hearing tomorrow at 10:00 am on the whistleblower provisions in Protecting America’s Workers Act (H.R. 2067). These provisions apply to violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), which cover approximately 60% of corporate whistleblower complaints. The proposed changes are designed to update workplace whistleblower protections by mirroring other modern whistleblower statutes, such as the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. It will provide stronger anti-retaliation protections for workers who blow the whistle on dangerous workplace conditions. Please visit the committee website for a list of witnesses and to watch the hearing online.

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NWC Calls for Obama to Appoint New Special Council

Posted on April 23, 2010 by Lindsey Williams

Former U.S. Special Council for the Office of Special Council (OSC) Scott Bloch has been charged with criminal contempt of Congress for withholding “pertinent” information from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Bloch, the head of an office designed to protect whistleblowers and enforce anti-discrimination laws, allegedly retaliated against employees and dismissed whistleblower cases without fully investigating them. Bloch resigned in October 2008 amid these allegations, and the office has remained vacant under the Obama administration.  See Truthout.org coverage of the Bloch scandal for more information

The National Whistleblowers Center has since called for President Obama to appoint a new Special Council who will protect whistleblowers. In a statement, Stephen Kohn, Executive Director of the National Whistleblowers Center said:

The new (Special Council) appointee must be top notch and must have the background and experience, not only as a proven strong advocate for whistleblowers, but as a tough and aggressive enforcement official…Whistleblowers need a real advocate and a powerful voice within the administration.

The OSC has a duty to fully review legitimate whistleblower claims, and employees should not be retaliated against in an office structured to combat that very behavior within the government. The Office of Special Council has had a highly criticized history, but President Obama can write a new chapter and fulfill his campaign promise to appoint a Special Council who will protect whistleblowers.  

The public can help this cause by taking action and sending a letter supporting the appointment of a true whistleblower advocate for Special Council.

*Philip Barrett (NWC Intern) contributed to this post

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