Justice agency, union reach telework agreement

A dispute over telework policies at the Justice Department's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ended last week in an agreement that gives about 750 employees greater flexibility to work away from their offices.

The National Treasury Employees Union and the agency have been embroiled in contract negotiations for more than a year, with the union demanding more flexible telework policies for employees than the agency appeared willing to accept.

But an agreement was reached during a 12-hour conference session with the Federal Service Impasses Panel late Wednesday night, according to NTEU. Prior to this marathon session, the agency's final offer allowed only nine employees to telework, and on a part-time basis.

Announced Friday by ATF, the new deal will let 650 industry operations investigators, who inspect firearms and explosives licenses, perform work from locations away from their traditional offices, including their homes.

The investigators, who make up the majority of the employees represented by the union, still will be required to go to their offices for meetings, planning sessions and training.

Another 98 employees -- forensic auditors, information technology specialists, supply systems analysts and program management analysts -- will be allowed to telework on a part-time basis. Other employees are allowed to telework on a situational basis.

NTEU said the union was able to win the concessions by providing the details of what the jobs entailed.

Testimony from other agencies with broad telework programs, including the Internal Revenue Service, the Patent and Trademark Office and the Treasury Department's Tax and Trade Bureau, also helped bridge the gap between the two sides.

The investigators perform about 70 percent of their work out of the office anyway, and this arrangement will give them more flexibility, said Edgar Domenech, ATF's deputy director. The arrangement recognizes that telework can improve employees' performance, he said.

"ATF views this agreement as a win-win for its employees and the bureau," Domenech said in a statement.

Colleen Kelley, president of NTEU, said the agreement could have been reached some time ago, but added she hopes this establishes a precedent for other agencies to expand telework opportunities.

Agency and union officials still are negotiating over what type of equipment will be provided to the employees allowed to telework under the new deal. NTEU is asking that the agency pay for a filing cabinet and for half the cost of a high speed Internet connection.

Both sides must submit proposals on this matter to the Federal Service Impasses Panel by the end of May, for a decision.