President Dayton's Statement on Return to Office Mandate: No Plan, No Space, No Support

MAPE’s opposition to Governor Walz’s Return to Office (RTO) mandate was never just about telework. It is about respect and workers’ right to have a say in decisions that affect them. The decision to mandate RTO was unilateral, made without data or discussion and erodes the principles of collective bargaining. This sets a dangerous precedent for all other working conditions negotiated at the bargaining table. We are reasonable, but we need a plan, consultation and respect for the bargaining process.

The Governor chose a June 1 RTO implementation date arbitrarily and without regard for agency readiness or operational realities. He and Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) have no centralized plan for a mass RTO. Two months’ notice is simply not enough time for either workers or agencies to plan effectively, as proven by the near dozen agencies implementing phased or delayed implementations.

Some agencies, like the Department of Natural Resources, are choosing a stricter policy interpretation than Gov. Walz’s mandate requires, while others are struggling to comply. This incongruity has caused chaos at every level, with agency leaders scrambling to reconfigure space and operations. Agencies are now spending more money at spaces they recently remodeled to accommodate widespread telework.

We have formally requested a delay in RTO implementation to allow for real planning and meaningful dialogue, MMB still has not responded to our request.

We are seriously concerned about the new work situation. Our members are worried about layoffs because Washington is cutting grants, and now they’re worried about receiving layoff notices because our elected officials failed to pass a timely budget.

Our members have efficiently delivered critical services to millions of Minnesotans via telework, and the Governor’s mandate is an unnecessary disruption. Our state should be spending money on the critical services Minnesotans require and not on needless and increasingly expensive office space.

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