Last Spring, EPA management and labor representatives established (by charter) a committee to “consider and promote improvements in the way EPA addresses the COVID-19 pandemic.” The EPA Labor COVID-19 Coalition (ELCC) met formally a few times in 2021 to discuss in a pre-decisional forum how the Agency might implement the safe return of employees to their offices. “Pre-decisional involvement” (PDI) means a collaborative dialogue to reach consensus as much as possible prior to the initiation of any formal bargaining. Therefore, NTEU’s participation does not waive any bargaining rights over changes in work conditions related to the pandemic, including “re-entry.”
It is important to note, however, that our senior leaders have not appropriately engaged this group in a manner consistent with the charter before sending its Future of Work plans to OPM/OMB, even though each mass mailer has stated and re-stated their “commitment” to working with the unions. NTEU will continue to press our senior leaders to honor the ELCC’s charter and allow affected employees to have a voice in the development of re-entry plans, not just an opportunity to react to what management has decided.
You can read the ELCC charter here. NTEU’s representative to the ELCC is Allison Hoppe, and the Co-chair for labor is Zakiya Davis, President, NAGE Region 4.