California Union Pushes Back on Remote Work Mandate

A growing clash over the future of remote work is unfolding in California, where one of the state’s largest public employee unions is pushing back against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order to bring thousands of workers back into government offices. With a July 1 deadline approaching for most state employees to return to in-person work at least four days a week, the Professional Engineers in California Government (PECG) union is backing new legislation that would protect and expand work-from-home options.

Proposed Bill Would Protect Remote Work

The proposal, introduced by Assemblymember Alex Lee, a Democrat from Milpitas, would require state agencies to offer remote work “to the fullest extent possible.” Under the bill, agencies would also need to provide written explanations whenever they decide employees must work on-site instead of remotely.

Supporters say the measure is about more than convenience. They argue that telework has saved taxpayers millions of dollars, reduced traffic congestion, and improved the quality of life for state employees — benefits that should not be abandoned.

“The intent is absolutely to establish a state policy that flexible telework can and should be provided to state employees,” said Ted Toppin, executive director of PECG, which represents more than 15,000 engineers working mainly for Caltrans and various environmental agencies. “It serves state government, it serves taxpayers, and it certainly serves state employees.”

The debate is the latest chapter in a major shift in workplace culture that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like employers across the country, California state agencies rapidly adopted remote work in 2020, allowing tens of thousands of employees to perform their jobs from home.

For many workers, the change was life-altering. Long commutes disappeared. Families gained flexibility. Some employees were even able to move to more affordable parts of the state. By 2024, about half of all California state employees were eligible for telework, according to estimates from the Department of General Services. Of those eligible, nearly three-quarters preferred to continue working from home at least part of the time. But the Newsom administration has gradually reversed course.

In 2024, the governor required most state employees to return to the office at least two days a week, a decision that angered many workers and their unions. Last year, he went further — issuing a mandate that most employees must be in the office at least four days a week. That directive was initially set to take effect sooner, but implementation was delayed until this July after negotiations with several labor groups, including the engineers union.

Newsom’s Argument for In-Person Work

Newsom has argued that bringing workers back in person will improve collaboration, strengthen workplace culture, and help revive downtown economies that have struggled since the pandemic. Yet critics say the order is unrealistic and poorly planned.

Many state agencies simply don’t have the space to accommodate all of their employees at once. A recent report by The Sacramento Bee found that several departments are short thousands of workstations and would need significant upgrades to handle a near-full return to the office.

There are also major financial implications. A report released last year by the California State Auditor estimated that allowing employees to work from home at least three days a week could save the state roughly $225 million annually in reduced office space, utilities, and other operational costs.

Assemblymember Lee says those savings should not be ignored. “These cost savings and environmental benefits directly benefit the public,” Lee said in a statement. He added that his bill would help ensure greater transparency by requiring agencies to publicly document their telework policies and any financial savings achieved through remote work.

The proposed legislation would also require the state to create a public dashboard tracking those annual savings. The Department of General Services had previously published similar data but stopped doing so in 2024 — a move union leaders criticized as a step backward.

Toppin emphasized that the goal of the bill is not to directly overturn Newsom’s return-to-office mandate, but rather to encourage a more balanced and flexible approach. “Saving money, protecting the environment, cutting traffic, recruiting and retaining staff — those are shared goals of all Californians,” he said. “Telework helps accomplish all of that.”

Political Influence of the Engineers Union

The engineers union has long been a powerful player in Sacramento politics. According to CalMatters’ Digital Democracy database, PECG donated more than $3.5 million to state lawmakers between 2015 and 2024. Its political contributions have helped shape major policy debates, including transportation funding and labor negotiations.

The Future of Remote Work in California

Still, the broader conversation over remote work is far from settled. While some state agencies already require employees to be in the office at least three days a week, others have embraced hybrid models more fully. The California Legislature itself has largely insisted that its staff continue to work in person at the Capitol.

As the July deadline approaches, tensions are likely to intensify. For thousands of state workers who have built their lives around remote work, the stakes feel deeply personal. And for California policymakers, the question remains: Is the future of government work best built around office desks — or laptop screens at home?