The fine line civil servants walk when protesting the provincial budget

As numerous protests against Budget 2016 get underway across the province Friday, civil servants may be wondering if they're able to join the masses to express their discontent -when who they're angry withistheir own employer.

The answer iswrapped in a tangle of employee policies andgovernment legislation, with potentially dire consequences for theworking future of a civil servant.

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Despite that, publicsector workers do havesome leeway, according to the head ofthe province's largest union.

"They can certainlyparticipate in protests," said JerryEarle, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE).

ButEarleadds afew significant caveats to that.

"Theyhave to be careful in what they say, or if they say anything," he said.

And if that protesthappenswhile you're on the governmentclock, you'll have to stay away.

"Not during working hours," saidEarle.

"But what somebody does on their own lunch break, or what they do after hours or on the weekend, that's their own personal time."

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Even then, civil servants might want to exercise an extra degree of caution.

Off-duty conduct rules apply

Under the province's discipline policy, civil servants can be reprimanded for off-duty conduct if it "detrimentally affects the reputation of the employer" or "erodes the employer's trust in the employee to the point that the employment relationship is irreparably damaged."

Discipline is progressive, with the policy saying there are verbal and written reprimands before suspension and termination are considered.

Unlike the federal government, which outlines its expectations for civil servantsin onevalues and ethics code, public sector workers in Newfoundland and Labrador have to sift through a series of policies and legislation to understand what they can and can't do.

There is conflict of interest legislation, which says workers shouldn't engage in public activity that interferes with a worker's duties, along with an oath of office, which limits what confidential information workers can voice.

That has led to confusion in the past, most recently earlier in April whena memo sent to College of the North Atlantic faculty and staff violated their employee rights, by erroneously stating they could not attend a protest.

NAPEemploys two full-time lawyers, whoEarlesaid have interpreted these policies to come up withrecommendations to the union and its members.

But those are interpretations, andEarle cautions against individuals being too outspoken.

"You can't attack your employer. Leave that to the likes of myself," he said.

How to express yourself

Earle said there are no-riskways for civil servants to make themselves heard.

"We elect the MHAs so we certainly got a right to email, call our MHAs.[Those are]ways we can do it one-on-one. We can ask to meet with our MHAs." he said.

Earle said there's also nothing to stopworkers from going to their management and vocalizing their frustrations.

He hears from many union members who have a lot to say, but bite their tongue.

"I've had people come to me, just out of fear, andtalk about, 'I'd like to be able to say something.' And obviously with policy and that, they can't. We've heard from hundreds on that."