IFPTE Responds to Biden Administration Directive on Federal Telework
Union calls directive from Chief of Staff “confusing”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Officers of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), a labor union representing upwards of 90,000 workers across North America, including tens of thousands of federal employees, responded to Friday’s directive by White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients to “aggressively” reduce telework.
IFPTE President Matthew Biggs:
“Given that OMB put out a directive on telework just four months ago, the timing and intent of Mr. Zients directive to Cabinet officials last Friday is confusing. The April directive told agencies to assess their workplaces and missions where it makes sense to increase in-person work, but do so by working collaboratively with their unions and do so by striking a balance that also recognizes and continues telework where it has proven efficient and effective. For the most part, this has worked nicely across agencies where we represent federal workers and we expect that collaborative and thoughtful approach to continue.”
IFPTE Secretary-Treasurer Gay Henson:
“IFPTE federal locals across the nation have bargained and continue to work and bargain with management on the appropriate level of telework and in-person work necessary to accomplish the respective mission of federal agencies. There is no doubt that when unions and management work together on these work arrangements the outcomes are positive for both the workers, the agency, and the taxpayers that we serve.”
IFPTE Western Federal Area Vice President Jamie Uyeunten:
“It is critical that federal agencies are thoughtful and pragmatic in how they approach telework arrangements, as bad telework policies would have a negative impact on retaining and recruiting the best and brightest to come serve our nation as civilian federal workers. We know that there are jobs where workers absolutely have to be here in person, and there are jobs where performance and efficiencies are better gleaned through telework. The April OMB directive aimed at increasing in-person work hit an appropriate balance in making sure this is done correctly and remains a good blueprint as to how we should continue to proceed.”
Across the United States and Canada, IFPTE represents 90,000 highly skilled workers in the federal, public, and private sectors. IFPTE is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO and the CLC. More information can be found at www.IFPTE.org.