NAPE/AFSCME member Jordan Anderson was recently reinstated with full back pay and benefits after being wrongfully terminated by the Nebraska Department of Labor (DOL). In May 2023, Jordan was fired from his position as an Unemployment Insurance Adjudicator for the DOL.  “I got no warning and the termination came as a big surprise,” Jordan said. […]

NAPE/AFSCME member Mike Andrews, a Motor Vehicle Examiner for the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), prevailed in a grievance challenging an unsatisfactory 2022 performance evaluation. Mike was never disciplined for his performance at any time during 2022, and he never received any feedback that his performance was unsatisfactory. Because he didn’t receive this crucial […]

In late August, NAPE/AFSCME members who work for the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) as Social Services Workers in Omaha and Fremont began contacting their union representatives with concerns about how a DHHS Administrator treated them at their workplace. Dozens of NAPE/AFSCME members reported that during individual team meetings at their worksites, […]

NAPE/AFSCME member Toni Bonsera, a Program Specialist for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), joined our union on her very first day of state employment. But NAPE wasn’t Toni’s first encounter with union membership. Toni grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a state that she admitted was a little more union-friendly than Nebraska. […]

NAPE/AFSCME Volunteer Member Organizers (VMOs) are taking advantage of the momentum NAPE gained during our successful Organizing Blitz in July by volunteering their time to visit potential union members at their homes. Union membership is at a 25-year high, and our leaders are determined to have record-high membership by the time contract negotiations start next […]

Eva Reese, a Staff Care Technician at the Norfolk Veterans Home, knew it was time to become a NAPE/AFSCME member when our Field Representatives visited her workplace in August. “The Field Representative that I spoke to was so sincere and genuinely wanted to help,” she said. “I could really see that.” Eva passionately advocates for […]

NAPE/AFSCME member Tim Miller, a Highway Maintenance Crew Chief for the Nebraska Department of Transportation in Ravenna, joined our union because he wanted to be part of the effort to advocate for his fellow State of Nebraska employees. Tim enjoys working outdoors, being with great coworkers, and loves that every day brings a new challenge. […]

Our union contract guarantees members a minimum of two hours of pay if they are called back to duty outside of their regular schedule. In 2021, the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) refused to pay members the minimum two hours of callback pay unless they reported to a physical worksite. Many employees […]

NAPE/AFSCME Field Representatives get a lot of questions about flexing schedules. On this edition of the Rep’s Corner, Eddie talks about all things flex time, including what it is, what it isn’t, how it’s approved and denied, and what to do if your request is denied.

From August 25-27, NAPE/AFSCME delegates convened at the Cornhusker Marriott Hotel for our 26th Biennial Delegate Assembly. The delegates, union members who were elected by their peers to represent them, discussed, debated, and adopted NAPE/AFSCME’s 2023-2025 strategic plan, legislative platform, and amendments to our union’s constitutional bylaws. After the first business session, Elissa McBride, Secretary-Treasurer […]

NAPE/AFSCME union membership is at a 25-year high, and our growth hasn’t slowed one bit. It’s because of our growth that we were able to negotiate the best union contract in the 35-year history of the State Employees Collective Bargaining Act. There’s an unmistakable link between the number of members we have and our power […]

At this year’s Biennial Delegate Assembly, the member-elected NAPE/AFSCME delegates voted to elect the union’s officers by secret ballot. At the close of business on Sunday, those five officers were sworn into office. President Melissa Haynes, a DHHS Social Services Worker from Fremont was reelected to a second term as union President. She is excited […]

NAPE/AFSCME member Jimmy Kazalski recently won a grievance and had his three-month disciplinary probation rescinded and any record of the disciplinary action removed from his personnel file. On March 20, 2023, Jimmy, a Recreation Specialist for the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS), was given a Statement of Charges. He promptly contacted his union representative […]

In June 2023, the Nebraska Department of Education sent our union a notice that it would consolidate certain job classifications in Vocational Rehabilitation and Disabilities Determination Services. Under state law, the Department of Education has the right to add, subtract, or consolidate job classifications, however, the law requires NDE to negotiate the salaries of those […]

Katherine Knutzen, a Pre-Employment Transition Service Specialist for the Nebraska Department of Education, became a NAPE/AFSCME member two years ago and has since become a union activist, was elected to the Board of Directors, and, most recently, she served as a delegate at our Biennial Delegate Assembly.  “It took me quite some time to become […]

At the August 25 NAPE/AFSCME Board of Directors meeting, the board instructed NAPE/AFSCME Executive Director Justin Hubly to request a meeting with Governor Jim Pillen to discuss his appointment of Dr. Steve Corsi as CEO of the Department of Health and Human Services.  A number of our members have reached out to their union leaders […]

The Nebraska Legislature’s Office of the Public Counsel, better known as the Ombudsman’s Office, exists to promote accountability in government by independently and impartially investigating issues related to state agencies and employees. NAPE/AFSCME members can report violations of law, fraud, waste, and mismanagement in state government under the State Government Effectiveness Act, also known as […]

NAPE/AFSCME Volunteer Member Organizers (VMOs) were out in force during our July organizing blitz. Between July 17-26, our VMOs visited 37 different worksites and the homes of over 1,100 state employees to talk about our new labor contract, record salary increases, and the importance of having a strong union.   Because of our efforts, more than […]

NAPE/AFSCME membership is at a 25 year high, with new members joining every day. In fact, in July alone, more than 240 state employees became new union members.  Kable Davis became a member of NAPE/AFSCME during our July organizing Blitz when Volunteer Member Organizers visited him at his home to chat about his work and […]