For months, NAPE/AFSCME union members have united to protect public services from drastic state budget cuts through our “We Are Nebraska” campaign. Union members have educated our fellow Nebraskans on the importance of public services, enforced our contract to protect our rights, and we’ve demanded that our Senators protect public services.
All of our efforts came to a head in February as the Nebraska Legislature’s Appropriations Committee began its budget hearings in Lincoln. Union members have testified to make sure that the committee knows that we will not allow the state budget to be balanced on our backs and at the expense of the vital public services that our fellow Nebraskans rely on.
NAPE/AFSCME Executive Director Justin Hubly said during testimony on the mainline budget bill LB1071, “When state employees are constantly asked to do more with less, please know that it’s our fellow Nebraskans who bear the brunt of the decrease in quality of services. It’s a nice talking point, but it’s not possible to constantly do more with less.”
At the Department of Health and Human Services budget hearing, the Appropriations committee heard nearly six hours of testimony from concerned Nebraskans about the agency’s proposed $200+ million in cuts. Our union called out the Department’s actions to increase Developmental Disabilities Service Coordinators case loads to 30 clients, the closing of an additional 43 vacant positions, and the Department’s ill conceived plan to close the Whitehall Campus and move youth committed to the state’s custody across the state.
We’ve also opposed additional cuts at agency budget hearings like the Department of Correctional Services, State Patrol, Department of Economic Development, and Department of Water, Environment, and Energy, all of whom plan to eliminate positions.
Thanks to our united voice, record high membership, and strong advocacy at the Legislature, we believe that we will prevent additional mass layoffs of our union members while protecting the vital services we provide to our neighbors. We are focused on preventing the closure of the Whitehall Campus and Nebraska Correctional Youth Facility as well as any additional cuts in the final weeks of the legislative session.
Union members are encouraged to monitor their email for action alerts to contact their Senator as the budget is considered in the coming weeks. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Not a union member? Stand with your colleagues to protect public services and join your union today.