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Union asks appeals board to back telework flexibility as state returns workers to offices
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Summary
A representative for Local 1000 urged the board to support flexible telework policies, arguing productivity and savings; board members acknowledged the comment but noted the board does not control statewide return‑to‑office policy.
A union representative urged the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board on May 21 to publicly support continued telework flexibility for agency employees, saying telework preserved productivity and saved state money during and after the pandemic.
David Jimenez, identified in the transcript as “vice president, secretary treasurer for SCI Local 1000,” told the board that the union represents nearly 100,000 state workers and that many Appeals Board employees are Local 1000 members. “CUIAB employees have done their jobs and have done them well while telework,” Jimenez said. He told the board that forcing staff back to the office four days a week would “raise costs, increase commutes, and risk losing staff who can find more flexible jobs elsewhere.”
Jimenez acknowledged the board does not set statewide policy but asked the board “to support flexibility and protect the option of telework that make this agency stronger.” Chair Michael Allen thanked the speaker; several board members later contrasted matters the board can control with statewide directives.
Board staff and members noted during subsequent reports that the agency is assessing operational issues associated with a governor’s return‑to‑office executive order issued in March, but officials said the CAMS best‑practices review was initiated before that directive and is focused on technical system use and consistency across field offices rather than on employee location. Judge Koutre told the board the CAMS site visits are “relatively agnostic” about where employees work and are instead focused on staff’s technical fluency with CAMS.
Board members asked staff about separations and whether the return‑to‑office requirement has driven resignations. Chief Administrative Services Robert Silva said it is too early to tell and that recent separations he reported were not related to the return‑to‑office directive.
The board did not take action in response to the public comment during the meeting; officials indicated the item was received for the record.
