PECG says Newsom's veto of AB 1729 won't end the telework fight

Professional Engineers in California Government President Brian Simon criticized Gov. Gavin Newsom’s veto of AB 1729, a bill the union said would have restored flexible telework rights for California state employees. PECG says it will keep pushing for telework at the bargaining table, in the Legislature and in the media.

Why it matters: - PECG says flexible telework could save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars while reducing emissions and congestion. - The union argues telework helps state agencies recruit and retain skilled employees and deliver services more efficiently. - The veto keeps a return-to-office mandate in place for California state workers.

What happened: - Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed AB 1729, a PECG-sponsored bill that would have restored flexible telework rights for state employees. - PECG President Brian Simon issued a statement on Sept. 21, 2026, calling the veto a setback. - Simon said the governor missed a chance to reshape the workplace for state employees and workers more broadly.

The details: - AB 1729 had bipartisan support in the Legislature. - Asm. Alex Lee authored the bill, and Asm. Josh Hoover co-authored it. - PECG said 96 Assembly members and senators, from both parties, voted for the measure. - Simon said the state’s own data shows telework works. - PECG’s statement said flexible telework should be embraced, not discarded.

Between the lines: - The veto extends a broader fight over how much flexibility California should give state workers after the pandemic-era shift to remote work. - PECG is framing telework as a cost-saving management tool, not just a labor issue. - The union’s language suggests it will use multiple pressure points, including bargaining and public messaging, to keep the issue alive.

What's next: - PECG said it will continue advocating for flexible telework at the bargaining table, in the Legislature, in the media and elsewhere. - The union says the fight is not over despite the veto. - The state’s telework policy is likely to remain a live issue in future contract talks and legislative sessions.

The bottom line: - Newsom’s veto blocks PECG’s immediate telework push, but the union is signaling a sustained campaign for a return to more flexible state work arrangements.