Public Employee Press: PEP Talk
Union campaigns for Teleworking Bill
By MIKE LEE
The surge late last year into January of the Omicron variant across New York State and the City pushed many people back into quarantine. With several school districts returning to remote learning, an additional burden was shouldered by working parents, including those public workers mandated by then-NYC Mayor de Blasio to return to work last fall.
It has become a public health risk once again with workers in city agencies and the private sector forced to work and commute when variants run rampant.
In response to calls by District Council 37 and other public worker unions, the New York State Assembly unanimously passed legislation (A.464), the New York State Teleworking Expansion bill, on Jan. 12, that will allow state agencies to establish policies allowing workers to perform all or a portion of their vital work away from the worksite.
A bill for New York City public workers, A.457, is currently in committee in the State Assembly.
As long as job performance is not impacted, teleworking is best for workers in information technology and other technical and analysis-oriented jobs as was proven during the pandemic when it started in March 2020.
“A large part of New York City’s workforce—our members—were able to provide the necessary services our communities needed during the worst of the pandemic,” said DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido. “We disagreed strongly with [then] Mayor de Blasio’s move to force our workers into the office last year, knowing full well that this pandemic was not over. Unfortunately, as we now see with the Omicron variant, our worst fears were realized.”
As was shown during the pandemic, teleworking allowed workers to continue their regular job responsibilities during their most productive hours and still effectively communicate with supervisors and their co-workers. It also allowed them to often eliminate or reduce lengthy commuting times, thereby better balancing work and home life with other personal responsibilities.
Many DC 37 members commute for as long as two to three hours a day, often on public transportation, to work in city agencies that, despite their best efforts to ensure safety, are usually a breeding ground for COVID.
Teleworking also has the distinct financial advantages of reducing commuting costs and money allocated for extended childcare.
“Decreasing the financial burden on the city’s workforce is imperative as we continue to face the financial consequences of the pandemic,” Garrido said.
