State employees union demands negotiation over Pillen order to end working from home

LINCOLN — The union that represents state employees has demanded that the state allow negotiations over Gov. Jim Pillen’s recent order to end working from home.

In a press release, the Nebraska Association of Public Employees (NAPE/AFSCME Local 61) said its contract with the state “guarantees” that such changes in working terms and conditions are mandatory subjects of bargaining and cannot be imposed without first negotiating with the union.

Pillen’s recent order that state employees return to the office by Jan. 2 set off a firestorm of objections from workers.

Some complained that they were hired on the premise that they could work from home, at least part of the time; others said it would disrupt their families and need for day care and would force them to quit. One state agency, in response to a survey from the Governor’s Office, said it had saved $500,000 by allowing employees to work from home, which freed up office space for another agency.

Justin Hubly, who is executive director of NAPE, said remote work assignments, where appropriate, are beneficial to both the taxpayer and the employees.

The union’s demand letter said some state workers had already begun applying for non-state jobs, which would exacerbate the shortage of staff in many state agencies. A Sept. 30 report on staffing showed 2,500 vacancies in state offices.

“The state is critically shortstaffed at many agencies,” Hubly said Tuesday. *Our top priority is ensuring that we can continue to provide effective and efficient services to our fellow Nebraskans, while also respecting the rights of our members, our contract and the law.”

“We must do everything in our power to ensure the state is able to retain its current workforce and attract a new generation of public servants for the future,” Hubly added.

In his Nov. 13 order, Pillen said that it was a a “common sense expectation” for state workers to work together in an office and that they were more productive in an office setting — a contention the union has disputed.

The NAPE demand letter, sent Monday night, said some state workers prefer to work remotely. It added that the state “cannot afford to lose a single one of our public servants right now. If we do, all Nebraskans pay the price.”

The letter gives the state until Dec. 12 to respond.