Leslie Galloway, an Office Associate IV at the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE), joined our union in July. Leslie has worked for the State of Nebraska since 2009 and knew it was time to become a NAPE member.
“I don’t know why it took me so long to join, but I felt that in this ever-changing political landscape, I needed to be a part of something bigger,” she said. “Now more than ever it felt like a good time to stand in solidarity with my coworkers to protect ourselves and one another. And, of course, seeing what our union did two years ago with those raises and contract negotiations – I wanted to be a part of that this year.”
Leslie is committed to being an active union member. When we negotiate our new union contract this fall, Leslie wants to prioritize raises greater than inflation and guaranteed remote work opportunities. She knows these things won’t just be handed to our members, which is why she’s attending the 2024 NDE Bargaining Conference in August.
“I decided to jump fully in,” she said. “I went from not being a member to being all in, so I’m going to the bargaining conference to help advocate for us.”
Leslie is confident that her fellow members at NDE who participated in previous contract negotiations will help teach and guide her as she becomes more active in our union. She’s excited to be a part of making meaningful changes in her workplace.
“I’ve always been an advocate for our students and our team, but advocating for myself and others will be a step out of my comfort zone,” she said. “Historically, I’ve been content to sit back, but that can’t be the case anymore – nobody else will do this for me.”
Members like Leslie make our union strong. If you’re not a union member, will you join us today and help us negotiate the best possible contract this year?
