WASHINGTON, May 16 (UPI) -- The ATF has reached an agreement with a union on a telework agreement bureau staffers.
The long-running dispute over telework policies at the Justice Department's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ended last week in an agreement that gives about 750 employees greater flexibility to work away from their offices, GovExec.com reported Monday.
The National Treasury Employees Union and the agency have been embroiled in contract negotiations for more than a year, with the union demanding more flexible telework policies for employees than the agency appeared willing to accept.
But an agreement was reached during a 12-hour conference session with the Federal Service Impasses Panel late Wednesday night, according to NTEU. Prior to this marathon session, the agency's final offer allowed only nine employees to telework, and on a part-time basis, the report said.
Announced Friday by ATF, the new deal will let 650 industry operations investigators, who inspect firearms and explosives licenses, to perform work from locations away from their traditional offices, including their homes.
The investigators, who make up the majority of the employees represented by the union, still will be required to go to their offices for meetings, planning sessions and training, GovExec.com said.
Another 98 employees -- forensic auditors, information technology specialists, supply systems analysts and program management analysts -- will be allowed to telework on a part-time basis. Other employees are allowed to telework on a situational basis.
NTEU said the union was able to win the concessions by providing the details of what the jobs entailed.
Both sides must submit proposals on this matter to the Federal Service Impasses Panel by the end of May, for a decision.
