NTEU Opposes Interior Telework Directive
Yesterday (March 5) the Department of Interior issued a directive to increase the number of days certain Interior employees report to a government worksite, effective April 21. Because of the strength of your NTEU contract, this 50 percent in-office directive does not impact NTEU-covered employees. If you hear a different message from NPS management, please let NTEU know at ncr_nteu_336@nps.gov or nteuchapter296@nps.gov.
NTEU vehemently opposes this plan. It is an arbitrary decision that flies in the face of the proven benefits of telework and we will fight any attempts to expand this misguided policy to the bargaining unit employees we represent within the Department, including at the National Park Service.
Instead of embracing the many benefits that telework provides, the Interior directive doubles down on unwise guidance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that seeks to drive employees back to the office absent any compelling data or reasons for doing so. We are not going to let arbitrary percentages dictate our members’ abilities to avail themselves of the hard-fought rights we have won.
Telework is a proven program with benefits that include strong productivity, increased employee engagement and satisfaction, reduced commuting time and the subsequent environmental benefits. Restricting and reducing telework negatively impacts employee recruitment and retention. This is a step in the wrong direction. National President Doreen Greenwald will deliver this message to the leadership at NPS and the Secretary of the Interior.
Strong NTEU contracts and the telework rights we bargain are what protect our NPS members from these types of counterproductive policies. Regardless of whether we are fighting to protect and enforce contract language already in effect, or at the bargaining table pushing for the best deal for you, we will continue to be relentless on this issue.
Watch for further updates on this misguided move by the Interior Department and how NTEU, with the power of our members, will push back.
