Luke Rosiak

Layers of irony is what's going on here. The union bosses are suggesting that because battling Donald Trump is so important, their internal staff need to work really hard. And that includes starting to work from the union's office rather than from home far more, at least four days a week in the office now.

Layers of irony is what's going on here. The union bosses are suggesting that because battling Donald Trump is so important, their internal staff need to work really hard. And that includes starting to work from the union's office rather than from home far more, at least four days a week in the office now.

One of the big parts of what's keeping them so busy is fighting for federal employees to keep working from home, often four days or more at home. So you have the union locking in extensive telework for employees it represents while clamping down on telework for its own full-time staff of operatives.

One of the big parts of what's keeping them so busy is fighting for federal employees to keep working from home, often four days or more at home. So you have the union locking in extensive telework for employees it represents while clamping down on telework for its own full-time staff of operatives.

Exactly. The AFGE's in-house employees actually have their own union representing them against AFGE management, and they have filed a grievance against AFGE President Everett Kelly. They're saying it's hypocritical for the union to tell taxpayers that there are only upsides to feds working from home while telling employees of the union itself to report to the office.

Exactly. The AFGE's in-house employees actually have their own union representing them against AFGE management, and they have filed a grievance against AFGE President Everett Kelly. They're saying it's hypocritical for the union to tell taxpayers that there are only upsides to feds working from home while telling employees of the union itself to report to the office.

And how is the union trying to square that circle? About as well as circles are squared, I guess. President Kelly has responded by saying that as the boss, he has the right to make determinations about basic work requirements.

And how is the union trying to square that circle? About as well as circles are squared, I guess. President Kelly has responded by saying that as the boss, he has the right to make determinations about basic work requirements.

Now the reason this is so important is that it seems like AFGE is acknowledging that telework isn't always the best way to get things done when you're working hard on an important mission. That's not what it's been saying in the five-year agreements it's been signing with the Biden administration, which say large-scale telework advances DEI, helps the environment, and increases productivity.

Now the reason this is so important is that it seems like AFGE is acknowledging that telework isn't always the best way to get things done when you're working hard on an important mission. That's not what it's been saying in the five-year agreements it's been signing with the Biden administration, which say large-scale telework advances DEI, helps the environment, and increases productivity.

So even with COVID long in the past, federal employees still work from home at such rates that the government buildings are only 12% occupied. That's according to a Senate report. Trump has said he intends to call workers back to the office.

So even with COVID long in the past, federal employees still work from home at such rates that the government buildings are only 12% occupied. That's according to a Senate report. Trump has said he intends to call workers back to the office.

But in November, Joe Biden's Social Security Commissioner signed a contract through 2029 giving away the right of management to change telework from the status quo.

But in November, Joe Biden's Social Security Commissioner signed a contract through 2029 giving away the right of management to change telework from the status quo.

Exactly. AFGE, it turns out, has signed quite a few contracts binding the incoming administration. On December 18th, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission signed one agreeing that, quote, all EEOC positions are eligible for some amount of telework. AFGE's contracts with agencies often lay out procedures for telework up to four days a week, plus some employees being fully remote.

Exactly. AFGE, it turns out, has signed quite a few contracts binding the incoming administration. On December 18th, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission signed one agreeing that, quote, all EEOC positions are eligible for some amount of telework. AFGE's contracts with agencies often lay out procedures for telework up to four days a week, plus some employees being fully remote.

Correct. If working from the office is helpful when the work is really urgent and important, like if you're stopping the Trump administration, then the implication is that AFGE doesn't view actually serving the public in these agency jobs to be as important or urgent.

Correct. If working from the office is helpful when the work is really urgent and important, like if you're stopping the Trump administration, then the implication is that AFGE doesn't view actually serving the public in these agency jobs to be as important or urgent.

That's the question. I mean, no head of an executive branch can succeed unless he can mobilize the two million people working for him in service of his agenda. Right off the bat, forcing return to work could be crucial for shrinking the federal government because a lot of remote employees have moved to low cost of living areas and they'll actually quit rather than come back.

That's the question. I mean, no head of an executive branch can succeed unless he can mobilize the two million people working for him in service of his agenda. Right off the bat, forcing return to work could be crucial for shrinking the federal government because a lot of remote employees have moved to low cost of living areas and they'll actually quit rather than come back.