In preparation for the anticipated return of employees to their workplaces, NTEU continues to raise concerns and issues faced by frontline EPA employees during the coronavirus pandemic. We want to assure employees required to return to their worksites the safest possible return, while continuing to ensure teleworking employees have the support and equipment they need to effectively perform their jobs remotely. 

On April 27, NTEU announced the health and safety conditions that it believes are necessary before federal employees are required to return to the workplace. These conditions include:

• lifting of state and local stay-at-home orders;

• proof of a thorough cleaning;

• widespread access to COVID-19 tests for federal employees;

• adequate supplies of sanitizers and disinfectants;

• a policy of voluntary maximum telework;

• workspaces that accommodate safe physical distancing;

• a process for taking employee temperatures before they enter the building;

• permitting and providing the use of cloth face coverings; and

• continued telework or weather and safety leave for those who are at high-risk. 

On May 1st, in an effort to ensure that the agency promptly puts into place the necessary measures to protect the safety of its employees and to prepare for the potential resumption of agency operations,  NTEU President, Anthony Reardon, sent this letter to Administrator Wheeler requesting a briefing to learn of the agency’s plans to date and to ensure the agency is prepared to apply the necessary conditions recommended by NTEU to achieve a safe return of employees to workplace. 

As always, we will keep you informed as soon as there are any new developments to report on the agency’s response.  If you have any questions about our continuing efforts to ensure that employees are safe if they are recalled to work, please contact info@nteu280.org.