Recent case law confirmed that any emails using an employer’s email address, documents or data held on an employer’s computer is the property of the employer and as such they are allowed to view , use or delete messages or data held by their employees.
There is a force policy on Lawful Business Monitoring which explains how the force can apply this right in more detail.
As an Union we are conscientious that you should be able to communicate with your union rep and feel safe in knowledge that it won’t be read by somebody else.
In order to provide you and other members of this branch with the safety means of communicating with your branch or representative safe in the knowledge that whatever is shared with your union is totally confidential, the branch has developed our own email service and secure data storage which allowing us to move away from the force computer/email systems for union purposes.
After several months of trials we are ready to go live and as of Monday 19th June 2017 we are switching over to our @gmbwestyorkshirepolice.org.uk email system and as such we will be reducing the monitoring of our force GMB email addresses.
You can still use your force email to contact the branch or your rep, but the email must be marked ‘not protectively marked’ for them to reach us.
For total confidentially we would recommend that you use your personal email address not the forces.
Attached is the list of rep’s and their contact details, more new rep’s are coming online and we will update you and our web site (www.gmbwestyorkshirepolice.org.uk) with their contact details.
Posted: 16th June 2017