Labor board nixes return‑to‑office
The Vermont Labor Relations Board ordered the state to end its three‑day in‑office return mandate for thousands of state employees, demanding bargaining, rehiring and reimbursements — and Gov. Phil Scott has filed an appeal to the state Supreme Court. This is a live win for public‑sector unions and a case that will shape how administrative enforcement and collective bargaining protect remote work in Vermont. (vtdigger.org)
The Vermont Labor Relations Board published its opinion on April 1, 2026; the document extends roughly 60 pages. (fyivt.com)) The board’s written record cited a fall employee survey showing more than 3,000 state staff reported working from home three or more days per week. (newsbreak.com)) In its findings the board wrote that the administration “refused to bargain in good faith and interfered with employees’ exercise of rights,” language used to frame the legal violation. (vtdigger.org)) The Vermont State Employees’ Association filed the unfair‑labor‑practice charge on Nov. 10, 2025, and the Labor Relations Board held public hearings that began Feb. 5, 2026, with final briefs filed by both parties. (vtdigger.org)) A Windsor County Superior Court judge declined on Dec. 1, 2025 to grant a preliminary injunction against the administration’s hybrid standard, keeping the policy enforceable while the administrative case proceeded. (usnews.com)) The governor’s office issued a statement calling the board “broken” and warned the ruling could lead to restitution claims — including commuting and childcare costs — that would affect taxpayers. (governor.vermont.gov)) The Labor Relations Board posts full decisions in its online archive, and the VSEA has published the case briefs and hearing schedule used in the VLRB proceedings on its website. (vlrb.vermont.gov))
