1. United States
2. Minn.
3. Letter

Governor Walz's recent decision to mandate state employees return to the office for half their working hours starting June 1st raises significant concerns. This unilateral move was made without any involvement or consultation with MAPE, the union representing state workers. Such a substantial change to working conditions and our members' lives should not occur without meaningful negotiations and input from labor representatives. For 45 years, MAPE members have dedicated themselves to providing exceptional services to Minnesotans. The telework option has proven invaluable in recruiting and retaining top talent, especially from Greater Minnesota. Abruptly revoking this flexibility risks driving away skilled employees and hampering agencies' ability to fulfill their missions effectively. Furthermore, this return-to-office mandate fails to account for critical logistical concerns like infrastructure capacity, parking availability, and increased childcare needs. A more collaborative approach between the administration and MAPE could have addressed these issues proactively and crafted a sensible plan supporting both employee flexibility and agency operational requirements. Coercing state workers from across Minnesota to commute regularly to downtown St. Paul, potentially to address budgetary matters, is disrespectful to the workforce's contributions. We urge you to intervene and compel Governor Walz to rescind this order until proper negotiations with MAPE can occur. Unilateral decisions that drastically impact dedicated public servants are unacceptable. An engaged, respectful dialogue is required to uphold Minnesota's reputation as a great place to work in public service.