The California Public Utilities Commission announced a return to the office for employees two days a week, igniting confusion and frustration among staff after five years of remote work. Employees believed a one-year delay in returning to the office would secure their remote conditions. Union members claimed the commission violated agreements by not consulting about the telework policy change. Following backlash, the commission delayed the return-to-office order for union-represented employees until 2026, while stating compliance with labor representative communication protocols.
"They're not following any type of protocol," said Terry Gray, who works for the commission and serves as a board member for SEIU Local 1000. "I would say PUC has gone rogue."
By failing to "meet and confer" with labor representatives over the impacts of the telework policy change, Gray and other union members said, the commission has violated its agreement with SEIU Local 1000.
On Friday, after this story's publication, the agency announced it would delay the return-to-office order for union-represented employees until 2026.
Terrie Prosper, CPUC spokesperson, said the commission is complying with all meet-and-confer requests from its employee unions and will continue to do so.
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