"On May 18, 2011, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced that it was suing Hispanics United of Buffalo, a nonprofit that provides social services to low-income clients, for firing five employees after they criticized working conditions, including workload and staffing issues on their Facebook.

The case involved an employee who posted to her Facebook page in advance of a meeting with management about working conditions a co-worker’s allegation that employees did not do enough to help the organization’s clients. The post generated responses from other employees who defended their job performance and criticized working conditions, including workload and staffing issues. Hispanics United discharged the five employees who participated, claiming that their comments constituted harassment of the co-worker.

According to the complaint, the Facebook discussion was protected concerted activity within the meaning of Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) because it involved a conversation among co-workers about their terms and conditions of employment, including their job performance and staffing levels. A hearing of the complaint is scheduled for June 22, 2011, in Buffalo."