Return-to-Office Updates: What Members Need to Know
AFSCME Local 2620 is aware that the State and individual departments have begun sending communications to employees regarding the return-to-office (RTO) expectations and implementation plans.
We want to be clear: departments have the ability to communicate with employees about operational plans and workplace expectations. However, that does not eliminate the State’s obligation to meet and confer with AFSCME Local 2620 over negotiable impacts to Bargaining Unit 19 members.
Return-to-office policies may affect working conditions, including telework arrangements, schedules, commute obligations, office space, safety, workload, accommodations, and other practical impacts on members. These issues matter, and the State must respect the meet-and-confer process where required.
We will be requesting, if we haven't already, to meet and confer with each department regarding the RTO implementation and the potential impacts on Bargaining Unit 19 members. Our goal is to ensure that any changes are handled with transparency, consistency, and fairness across departments and worksites.
Members should carefully review any communication they receive from their department and keep copies of return-to-office notices, emails, telework agreement updates, or directives for their own records.
Members are also encouraged to complete the Local 2620 RTO Survey (Click Here) if they have not already done so. Survey responses help our union better understand how return-to-office changes may impact members across departments, classifications, and worksites.
Our message is simple: departments may communicate with employees, but they must still respect the meet-and-confer process and the rights of Bargaining Unit 19 members.
All departments received instruction from CalHR to notify our Union on or before June 1, 2026 to start the meet & confer process. Stay tuned for updates from your meet & confer team.
In solidarity,
AFSCME Local 2620