AFGE EEOC Council 216 has filed a 5th unfair labor practice (ULP) charge against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for unilaterally implementing the second phase of their re-entry plan on June 21 by requiring bargaining unit employees to go into their respective offices twice a week despite the ongoing uncertainty of the pandemic.
The agency previously terminated the 100% telework arrangements for bargaining unit staff while the parties were still negotiating a memorandum of understanding on re-entry.
“To date, the Agency has not completed negotiations and instead unilaterally implemented another phase of their re-entry plan, further changing working conditions for the bargaining unit,” the council said in its 5th ULP. “The Union requests that the Agency cease and desist the unilateral implementation of their re-entry plan.”
“The status quo should have been maintained regarding bargaining unit employees working conditions, including 100% telework until bargaining obligations have been met per the statute,” it continued. “By its actions, the Agency is interfering with, restraining, and coercing the exclusive representative in its ability to represent the EEOC bargaining unit.”
The council has filed four ULPs on reentry and one on the related issue of safety regarding EEOC repudiating 25% occupancy ceiling for offices in high COVID areas.
“EEOC, a civil rights agency, shamelessly continues to union bust by ignoring its bargaining obligations with its workforce,” said Council 216 President Rachel Shonfield. “Union rights are civil rights. It’s past time for EEOC to come in line with this administration’s support for collective bargaining and telework.”
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