The Labor Project for Working Families maintains a database of union contract language from across the country on work and family issues. We have collected union policies and negotiated contract language on telecommuting from various unions. The packet includes policies from Service Employees International Union, Communication Workers of America, the California State Employees Association, Public Service Alliance of Canada, the Newspaper Guild, Public Employees Federation and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union. While many unions are exploring the option of telecommuting, there are many concerns for protecting workers rights.
Telecommuting can isolate workers from their co-workers.
Unions may not be able to organize workers who are telecommuting. Monitoring working conditions becomes difficult. Employers may fire workers and then contract out work to others who will work at home with benefits or protections. There are also health and safety concerns about ergonomically correct equipment, who pays for it and who monitors it. The challenge is to offer flexibility to workers while retaining the strength of the union and protecting workers' rights.