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When the Department of Energy set out to unilaterally change telework and remote work policies, NTEU Chapters 213 (DOE D.C.) and 228 (DOE Germantown, Md.) took issue. The telework policies were negotiated, and DOE had no right to alter them without bargaining.
DOE denied NTEU’s request to bargain and proceeded to unilaterally implement new forms and rolled out a new system for tracking and approving telework requests.
DOE backed down after the union filed a grievance and it agreed to reinstate the original, negotiated telework and remote work policies and bargain over any proposed changes moving forward.
“We won this national telework grievance for two reasons: our chapters stay focused on any and all policy changes at all levels of the agency, and employees spoke up and told us what contract violations they were experiencing,” said Chapter 213 President Sonia Kassambara. “Together with NTEU national staff, we fought back against every attempted encroachment on telework.”
"This is an important victory that protected a crucial workplace right,” said Chapter 228 President Kim Parker, adding that new members joined the chapter because NTEU protected their telework rights.