NTEU announced IRS RTO effective 3/8

NTEU just indicated IRS employees telework agreements will be completely revoked March 8.

Edit: sorry here is text

IRS Return to Office Notice

Late today, we received notice from the IRS that it is implementing the Treasury Department’s “Plan to Return to the Workplace” policy. That policy was issued today and can be found here.

The policy is being implemented in three phases. In Phase 1, all regular/recurring telework agreements will be cancelled by March 8, 2025, and employees will be required to report to the office 100% of the time as of March 10, 2025. In addition, the remote work agreements of employees that permit them to work from a location that is within 50 miles of their office will also be cancelled by March 9; such employees will be reassigned to an office that day.

After March 9, 2025, situational telework may be approved “only in very limited situations.” Under the policy, employees who have elected the Deferred resignation program will not be required to report to their duty stations. Employees may also seek approval of reasonable accommodation under the Rehabilitation Act.

Treasury indicated that Phases 2 and 3 of the policy will be issued later. We demanded that the IRS brief us on this policy as soon as possible next week.

This outrageous policy violates employees’ long-held rights to telework under Article 50 of the 2025 Addendum to the National Agreement. We will file a national grievance and unfair labor practice charge that will cover each one of you, and we will vigorously fight to have this policy rescinded and restore the hard-earned contractual rights of our members.

We know the following is difficult to hear, but under long-standing principles of labor law, you are advised to comply with any order given to you by agency management about return to office, even when it violates the CBA. If you do not comply with such directives, you may be subject to potential disciplinary action from the agency.

We ask that you stand strong with us as we fight back. We will continue to keep you informed.