Can I be fired for handing around a petition to get someone, for lack of a better word, UN-fired? or would it be seen as free speech and they could do nothing but ignore the petition?
by 
Anonymous
ANSWERS: 9
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It would probably piss them off, and some reason for firing you can always be found. I don't think handing around a petition to get someone un-fired is that smart. Do you really think your bosses would change their mind based on that? I don't think it's worth the risk.
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Yes. It is your choice to take the risk. A petition is not only free speech, it is a way of making pression on people's decisions. Moreover, even if it was an error to fire that person, many people don't like to recognize their errors. It would be better to talk about this with some other people before you do this, for instance some kind of worker delegates or attorney.
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It is stretching the "freedom of speech" thing to expect it to apply to the workplace in a non-political sense. Doing as you propose is potentially disruptive and inflammatory, and the bosses have a responsibility to keep the workplace productive, to which petitioning is counter. As you have the right to decide to petition, they have more so the right (and obligation, even) to fire you for contributing to non work-related activities because they are not part of your assigned duties for which you were hired and which are not beneficial to the company.
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They can fire you because they don't like the way you answer the telephone. Every day when you show up for work you run the risk of making a fatal move that could end up in termination. I think of everyday as walking on a high-wire. You have to balance very carefully so you don't fall off. It's nobel of you to wish to make a protest but if they have already given someone a firing notice or they are gone, it is doubtful that anything you could do would result in a reversal.
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What about if it occured outside of work, like getting people to sign it in their off time, then handing the petition to their superiors (the ones who fired him werent the highest on the totem pole)
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If you work for the government, no. If you work for a private employer, most likely (but this varies by state).
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most companies have STRICT policies on solicitation (having a pet. signed) like a union paperwork, so if it is in the handbook or a known policy yes and no they don't have to unfire you
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You could be next if you push things, the economy is terrible right now, I'd stay out of it. No lawyer would take your case if you got fired like this anyway....sorry.
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I'd say your next if you push things, and the economy is not doing so well right now, so I'd stay out of it. BTW, I doubt any attorney would be interested in your case if you were fired like this.
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