From July 31-August 2, sixty-five NAPE/AFSCME union members gathered in Lincoln to set our contract negotiations priorities at our 2026 Contract Negotiations Summit. After a weekend of discussion and debate, our priorities are set and our negotiations team has been selected.
Members in attendance spent the beginning of the summit reviewing and training on our current labor contracts. After a thorough training, the attendees reviewed the feedback submitted by members on our contract negotiations survey, which included comments and submissions from over 1,000 members. Our Volunteer Members Organizers also shared feedback gathered from around the state during 4,000 Forward Week.
Summit attendees then split into committees to discuss and debate the top priorities identified at our town hall meetings and on the survey. Committees went in depth to develop recommendations about salaries, insurance, leave benefits, remote work, and artificial intelligence. Attendees reunited and debated the recommendations, eventually arriving at our priorities to protect public services in Nebraska.
“It was very clear from our town hall meetings and negotiations survey that our members care most about keeping up with the rising cost of living and protecting jobs and public services,” said NAPE/AFSCME Executive Director Justin Hubly. “Those attending the negotiations summit were very focused on that member feedback and set our priorities based on that feedback.”
Our negotiations priorities include:
Salaries That Keep Up With Cost of Living
- Base salary increases that account for inflation
- Salary increases that recognize performance and years of service
Protect Our Healthcare
- Protect our healthcare coverage
- Control rising costs
Make State Government More Efficient
- Remote work assignments where feasible
- Encourage retirement through sick leave payment incentives
- Paid parental leave to recruit a new generation of public employees
- Good governance and accountability if Artificial Intelligence is used
- Competitive salaries to reduce turnover
Members in attendance that were interested in serving on our contract negotiations teams interviewed with a committee of union members chaired by Amy Peters (DHHS, Lincoln). The committee made recommendations to the NAPE/AFSCME Board of Directors who appointed the negotiations teams. You can meet the negotiations teams here.
You can learn more about our priorities at one of three meetings in August:
August 11 – Lincoln – Firefighter’s Union Hall (241 Victory Lane) – 5:30pm
August 20 – Omaha – Zio’s Pizza (12997 W Center Rd) – 6pm
August 25 – Virtual Meeting – 7pm central – Register Here
Negotiations will begin on September 9 and continue through December 31 in accordance with state law. Union members are invited to a negotiations kickoff and Labor Day celebration on Tuesday, September 8 from 5-6:30pm on Centennial Mall outside the Nebraska State Office Building in Lincoln.
If you are not a union member, join your union today and stand with us to protect public services during contract negotiations!