Contract negotiations with the State of Nebraska continued during the month of October with our State of Nebraska contract negotiations team meeting with the Governor’s negotiations team three times. Our team has been laser focused during early negotiations sessions on the priorities that were set by our union members:
- Salaries that keep up with the rising cost of living
- Protecting our healthcare coverage and controlling costs
- Making state government more efficient
- Remote work assignments where feasible
- Encourage retirement with incentives like higher sick leave payout
- Paid family leave to recruit a new generation of public employees
- Good governance & accountability with Artificial Intelligence
The Governor’s initial salary proposal was just a two percent salary increase over two years, with an additional one percent salary step for satisfactory work performance in 2028. This proposal will not allow our members to keep up with the ever increasing cost of living in Nebraska. Additionally, the Governor has proposed cutting pay for some of our members at DHHS, NDCS, and NDVA 24-hour facilities. Our negotiations team remains committed to our top priority – salary increases that keep up with the rising cost of living. This is the only way to ensure state government can operate efficiently by attracting and retaining quality staff.
The bargaining teams also spent time in October discussing insurance. The State of Nebraska has proposed eliminating all minimum levels of insurance coverage guaranteed by our contract, while we remain committed to negotiating contract language that allows us to work together with the State of Nebraska to control costs, while also protecting our coverage.
The teams also spent time in October negotiating over a greater payout of earned sick leave and remote work assignments. No tentative agreements were reached. For a full update on our progress at the bargaining table, watch a recording of our latest negotiations update here. You can also attend an upcoming update in-person or online. A full schedule is available here.
Contract negotiations will continue through December 31, or when a tentative agreement is reached. Union members will then vote to accept or reject the tentative agreement at ratification meetings. Not a union member? Join your union today and add your voice to the fight for a fair and equitable contract as we protect public services in Nebraska.