MAPE and AFSCME denounce Walz’s unilateral decision to revoke telework agreements for state employees

For Immediate Release:  Wednesday, March 25, 2025
Contact: Ashley Erickson, (507) 450-5511 aerickson@mape.org or Max Hall, (612) 247-3725 Max.Hall@afscmemn.org

St Paul, MN – More than 36,000 state employees were shocked to receive notice Tuesday afternoon that Governor Tim Walz is calling his workers back to the office for 50% of their working hours starting June 1, 2025.

The Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), which together represent nearly 40,000 state workers across Minnesota, denounce Gov. Walz’s unilateral decision to revoke teleworking agreements in place for state workers across Minnesota.

“I am appalled and disgusted to see Governor Walz attempting to claw back telework agreements under the guise of ‘organic collaboration’ and ‘stewardship of office space,’” MAPE President Megan Dayton said. “Let’s call this what it really is: This is a unilateral move by a bad boss without consultation or consideration of the very staff he claims to care deeply about investing in. I never thought the same public worker attacks and micromanaging mannerisms of our federal administration would be mirrored in Minnesota. For administrators to unleash this kind of chaos on hard working employees when we’re about to start negotiating our next contract feels, at best, hypocritical, at mid, a strategic effort to erode the progress we’ve made to enhance our working conditions and productivity, and at worst, a short-sighted attempt at engineered attrition.”

AFSCME Council 5 Executive Director Bart Andersen said, “Let me be perfectly clear: as Executive Director of AFSCME Council 5, representing more than 18,000 state employees, we will not tolerate unilateral changes to our members’ work. The Administration’s decision to impose sweeping workplace policy changes without engaging our union and labor partners first is not just unacceptable—it’s an act of blatant disrespect. Our union members must have and deserve a seat at the table every step of the way. We are demanding full transparency and meaningful dialogue immediately. AFSCME Council 5, alongside our fellow labor union partners, will do whatever it takes to defend our members’ rights, safeguard their ability to work safely and effectively, and continue delivering high-quality public services for all Minnesotans.”