NAPE/AFSCME union leaders at the Department of Health and Human Services Customer Service Center in Lexington know the importance of educating their colleagues about their rights on the job and how being a union member makes our voice stronger in the workplace.
Marivel Erazo, a Social Services Worker in Lexington, became a steward because she found herself in a situation at work where she didn’t know what her rights were until she called her union representative.
“I wanted to become a point of contact in the office who knows what our rights are. I chose to get trained as a union steward and bring that new knowledge about our contract back to the office in Lexington so I can help assist my coworkers with questions,” she said.
Marivel said that becoming a NAPE member is a worthwhile investment because building power in the workplace, being an advocate, and creating other strong leaders is the best way to make your voice heard on the job and enforce your rights.
“I’m already getting questions about the multilingual pay language that the negotiations team won in our new contract and I have a basic understanding of our rights so I can tell my coworkers that it’s important to enforce those rights and ensure they get properly paid when they’re the ones always taking the calls that we would otherwise have to use the language line for,” she said. “It’s important that we get ahead of things before they even have a chance to become a problem, but I also know that I have the knowledge about how to proceed if things escalate.”
Marivel said that she and her fellow stewards at the Lexington call center are making a plan to get organized and grow in 2025 by meeting with their colleagues and educating them about their rights and the importance of union membership.
“I make a point to talk to my colleagues who aren’t members of our union yet because I still feel that it’s very important that they know their rights. We continue to encourage them to become members and we talk to people who are already members about how they can step up as leaders,” she said.
Marivel said she will continue to grow as a leader and expand her knowledge of our contract by attending future trainings. Her goal is to build more leaders and continue to grow union membership at her office.
“I want my colleagues to know that we’re on their side and we’ll always stand up for them,” she said. “This isn’t just about our jobs. What we do affects Nebraskans and our communities. Being a leader at work means that we’re standing up for the folks who provide those services that people really need.”
Our union membership is at a record high, and we will continue to grow in order to have a strong voice in the workplace. Leaders like Marivel and her fellow stewards in Lexington are a big part of our union’s continued success. Are you ready to become a union leader? There will be opportunities in 2025 for you to attend a leadership training. If you’re not yet a union member, join us today!