The Nebraska Commission of Industrial Relations, a state agency responsible for resolving disputes between public employees and their government employers, recently made a high-profile decision regarding telework for state employees that could affect all Nebraskans.

The Nebraska Association of Public Employees (NAPE/AFSCME) has appealed the CIR’s recent decision that the state of Nebraska does not have to negotiate the terms of telework jobs. However, Governor Jim Pillen should end the dispute today and negotiate an agreement with state employees that benefits all Nebraskans.

In November 2023, the governor issued an executive order that effectively ended remote work for state employees. At the time, the governor stated, “We run state government like a business, and the best way to do that is face-to-face.” It was clear from the start that the governor has a strong preference for in-person work assignments, while some state employees see value in remote or hybrid work assignments.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, society has been debating the pros and cons of remote work, and of course there are pros and cons to both remote and in-person work. Today, 85% of state employees work full-time in-person, and have done so throughout the pandemic to ensure critical services are provided to our fellow Nebraskans.

No one suggested that our snow plow drivers, nurses, maintenance workers, and DMV inspectors, to name a few, should work from home. The vast majority of government jobs must be done in person to provide the quality services our neighbors expect.

However, in order for the state government to function effectively and efficiently, there are a number of dedicated government employees who perform important work that does not involve direct contact with the public. Our child support enforcement staff, accountants, auditors, payroll clerks and many others perform important work that often goes unnoticed.

We are struggling with staffing shortages in many professions. The governor said, “Nebraskans expect our agencies to be fully staffed and ready to go.” The governor is right to have that expectation, but the reality is we are nowhere near fully staffed. Ending telework orders will only exacerbate the problem.

In May 2024, more than 20% of state jobs were vacant. Even after the governor eliminated some vacancies in June 2024, the vacancy rate remains in the double digits. Remote work mandates help attract and retain employees for certain positions, and we should do everything we can to ensure that all vacancies are filled.

That’s why our union filed a grievance with the CIR when the governor refused to negotiate telework orders. State law requires negotiations between our union and the governor on changes in terms because that’s the best practice. Negotiating working conditions with state employees is a smart investment in the future.

The dispute now before the Nebraska Supreme Court is less about telework and more about when negotiations are necessary between the state and its employees. Even if the Supreme Court rules in favor of the governor, he would be wise to work with state employees and negotiate. By negotiating reasonable terms for employees where appropriate, we can ensure the most efficient and effective delivery of state services and attract and retain a new generation of state employees.

A union is a group of workers who come together to advocate and collectively negotiate for their wages and working conditions. The working conditions of government employees are directly related to the quality of services the public receives. It is important to listen to the voices of frontline government workers.

We hope that the Governor will end this litigation and negotiate with us. We are confident that we can work with the Governor at the negotiating table to find a solution that will bring success to the state of Nebraska for years to come. We have done this with six different Governors over the past 37 years and we are confident that we will be able to do the same with Governor Pillen.

When we work together and negotiate, everyone has a voice and can achieve the best possible outcome. That’s a win for the state, a win for workers, and most importantly, a win for all Nebraskans.