Thursday
Mar132025
03.13.2025 🚨 NTEU Challenges IRS Office of Chief Counsel Over Telework Rollback 🚨
NTEU has filed a national grievance against the IRS Office of Chief Counsel, alleging that the agency has violated the 2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and federal labor law by unilaterally canceling telework agreements and mandating that employees return to the office five days per week starting March 10, 2025.
This directive, which applies to employees whose telework site is 50 miles or fewer from their post of duty (POD), was issued after the Department of the Treasury revised its telework policy. However, NTEU asserts that this action ignores existing contract rights and constitutes an unfair labor practice under 5 U.S.C. § 7116(a)(1), (5), (7), and (8). Employees with reasonable accommodations and those teleworking from locations more than 50 miles from their POD are reportedly exempt from the requirement.
What NTEU is Fighting For:
NTEU is demanding that Counsel:
✅ Rescind the return-to-office directive for NTEU bargaining unit employees.
✅ Clarify that the directive does not apply to bargaining unit employees.
✅ Reinstate all telework agreements canceled under this directive.
✅ Issue a public notice signed by the Chief Counsel acknowledging the violation of labor law.
✅ Implement any additional remedies deemed appropriate.
While NTEU is aggressively challenging this violation through the negotiated grievance process, we remind employees that they must comply with their supervisors’ instructions to avoid disciplinary action while this matter is litigated.
This is a critical fight for telework rights and workplace flexibility. Stay informed, stay engaged, and stand with NTEU as we work to uphold our negotiated agreements!
