NAPE/AFSCME member Anne Vasilisin, a Child and Family Services Specialist at the Department of Health and Human Services in Omaha, has been a State of Nebraska employee for nearly thirty years. In October, Anne got trained on our NAPE/AFSCME labor contract for the very first time.
“I don’t know the contract. I’ve worked here nearly thirty years and I don’t know it,” she said. “I know parts of it, but I don’t know the whole thing. And I’m very interested in learning how to advocate for myself.”
Anne met with our union Field Representatives in Omaha for a two-hour crash course on our 2023-2025 labor contract.
Afterward, Anne felt she had a solid foundation of knowledge about our contract and her rights on the job.
“It was 1,000 percent easier than I thought it would be. I’ll go home and read over it more, but I feel good about it,” she said. “And if I have questions or if I need help, I know my representatives are just a phone call away.”
Any NAPE/AFSCME member is welcome to attend training classes as part of a two-step process to become a union steward. To become a certified steward, members must take both a contract training class and a representative training class. These can be completed in any order. Current certified stewards are welcome to attend these classes for a refresher. Members who do not want to become a steward are still welcome to take a training course to improve their knowledge.
There are plenty more opportunities to get trained on our union contract and the law. Click here to sign up for a training session near you!