In March, we lost a trailblazer, leader, and friend when former NAPE/AFSCME President Mike Zgud passed away.
Mike’s family moved from Philadelphia to Cozad, Nebraska when he was a child, and he was a proud graduate of Cozad High School. Mike became a state employee with DHHS in 1980. Assigned to the Kearney office, Mike was an inspirational union leader in central Nebraska throughout his 35 year career. Mike was instrumental in the passage of the Nebraska State Employees Collective Bargaining Act which became law in 1987.
Over the course of his union leadership, Mike held several positions both locally and state-wide. He served on the NAPE/AFSCME Board of Directors and later was elected as the President of our union. Mike also served as President of the Central Labor Council of Nebraska. He was also on the executive board of the Nebraska State AFL-CIO and served as interim President. After his retirement from DHHS, Mike served as the president of the AFSCME Retiree Chapter 161.
“Mike had a lot of skills,” said Bill Arfmann, former NAPE/AFSCME Executive Director and Treasurer of AFSCME Retiree Chapter 161. “He consistently treated others with respect and was a great listener. Mike’s style of leadership was ‘I want to work with, collaborate with and share power with other leaders, because I get my energy through conversations with my fellow leaders.’ Mike lived that, and it’s because he lived that he was elected to the positions he held.”
Mike’s drive and determination to be active in the labor movement paved the way for the continued success of NAPE/AFSCME. He was a fixture of the labor movement in Nebraska and will be remembered for his integrity.
“Nobody was more welcoming to me when I arrived at NAPE in 2018,” said Justin Hubly, current NAPE/AFSCME Executive Director. “Our membership was at a record low eight years ago when I began here. Mike didn’t just provide me with context and advice, he rolled up his sleeves and was there to help as we developed our strategic plan. I miss Mike, but I’m so proud that he got to see us reach record high membership this year. Our success was possible because of his leadership and a lifetime of dedication to our union.”
The legacy that Mike Zgud had on the labor movement in Nebraska will impact generations of union members to come. NAPE/AFSCME is grateful for Mike’s leadership throughout his lifetime and dedication to his union.
The Mike Zgud Scholarship Fund is in the process of being established by NAPE/AFSCME and the Nebraska AFSCME Retirees. Stay tuned for information on how you can support this fund.