State employees union appeals decision upholding Pillens back-to-office order to Nebraska Supreme Court [Video]

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – A month after Gov. Jim Pillen’s executive order ending remote work for state employees was upheld, the union representing state employees responded.

Nebraska Association of Public Employees (NAPE) said they appealed the Nebraska Commission on Industrial Relations (CIR) decision to the Nebraska Supreme Court on Monday.

Union members believe the Supreme Court must determine whether all the terms and conditions of the employment surrounding remote work assignments are covered by the current collective bargaining agreement and whether the broad language in the management rights clause of the contract is enough to allow the state to decline to negotiate under the CIR’s “contact coverage” analysis.

In addition, the union appealed CIR’s decision to award the Attorney General’s office legal fees.

“We’ve made the decision to appeal not to debate the virtues of remote work, but rather to protect our member’s right to negotiate and to obtain clarity from Nebraska’s high court on when the …