NAPE member, and 19-year veteran of the Nebraska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Diane Viher was taken to an alley outside the commission office in Sidney to meet with the NOGCC Director and Deputy Director. In the alley, the Director boldly said, “Diane, it’s time for you to retire.” Diane is not ready for retirement, […]
Like most state employees, Department of Labor Unemployment Adjudicator Izabela Piper, uses her sick leave when necessary if she is ill. While it seems obvious that employees are allowed to use their earned sick leave when they are ill, the Department of Labor disciplined Izabela for not having predictable attendance and for failing to work […]
While a lot has changed in the world since February, NAPE has continued our effort to overturn the DHHS “business casual” dress code that some of our members are still being required to follow, even though the agency formally rescinded the policy in February. After a number of delays, the grievance finally proceeded to an […]
After more than a year of preparation, town hall meetings, worksite visits, and listening sessions with union members all across the state, bargaining conference delegates met in Lincoln in July to officially adopt our negotiations priorities and to elect a bargaining team. The delegates made a “step pay plan” the top priority for negotiations. Members […]
NAPE member Cathy Garrity was shocked when she received a formal notice of allegations regarding a comment she made on a WOWT-TV news story about a parolee who was resentenced to prison. She made the comment on her own device, on non-work time, and it contained no confidential or controversial information. Regardless, the Board of […]
For workers returning to offices during the pandemic, it is important to ensure the “3 D’s”: distancing, deterrence, and disinfection. It is important to ensure distancing between yourself and others. If your work area does not allow for distancing, you should request that you be relocated or that appropriate barriers are in placed around you. […]
NAPE member Michelle Sides faced a workplace nightmare when a DHHS client began harassing her. The client left more than 100 threatening messages on her work phone, and Michelle was scared. After her managers developed a safety plan, Michelle still felt unsafe and wanted an order of protection. In order to obtain a court order, […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has been disruptive in countless ways, not least with regard to our normal work routines. As the pandemic took hold, NAPE stood up for the safety of State of Nebraska workers, demanding that management properly consider and deploy telework arrangements, social distancing, and workplace hygiene to safeguard workers’ health and well-being while […]
After July 1, 2020 over eight thousand Nebraska state workers will have more money in their pockets. The 2019-2021 labor contract with the State of Nebraska bargained by NAPE on behalf of state workers calls for pay increases for hard working state employees. Workers covered by the contract will see a minimum two percent increase […]
Our union fights to protect the rights of State of Nebraska workers through our negotiated grievance process. The grievance process is the way in which workers and their representatives seek restitution for violations of the union’s contract with the State. NAPE picked up a big win recently in defending the right of State workers to […]
NAPE member Mike Andrews started his new job as a DMV Licensing Services Examiner I on November 21, 2019. Mike successfully completed his initial probationary period after six months with the agency like all state employees. Nine days after his probationary period had ended, Mike received notification that his probationary period was being extended for […]
If you missed our webinar on June 16 regarding returning to work, working from home, and upcoming contract negotiations, you can watch it here. The password is the same as usual. If you need a password, please contact us at help@napeafscme.org.
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has not slowed down NAPE efforts to enforce our contract and to advocate for our member rights. NAPE members have filed 39 grievances alleging management violations of our contract so far in 2020. Below is a summary of cases that are heading to arbitration hearings over the summer. Bereavement Leave NAPE […]
NAPE members have the right to a safe working environment and proper personal protective equipment while performing their jobs under our contract. As coronavirus restrictions loosen, NAPE members will come into contact with more and more members of the public. In order to protect yourself, it is imperative that members advocate for proper safety protocols […]
When congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act, it was designed to allow workers access to 80 hours of paid sick leave for COVID-19 and related illnesses. Shortly after the act was implemented, the federal government classified a number of jobs as “emergency responders” and “healthcare workers” exempting them from being able to access […]
NelNet gets $35/hour to process Unemployment Claims Click here to send Governor Ricketts a message. Governor Ricketts and the Nebraska Department of Labor signed an agreement with NelNet to pay $35/hour for temporary workers to help process unemployment claims. The agreement will last a minimum of three months and generate $1.7 million in revenue for […]
Click Here to Send a Letter to Your Member of Congress Right now, front-line public service workers – health care workers, corrections officers, custodians and other public service workers – are putting their lives at risk to fight this pandemic. But if Congress doesn’t pass state and local aid, these public service workers could be […]
If you were unable to join us for our town hall webinar on April 20, a recording is available below. For the password, please see your e-mail or you can e-mail admin@napeafscme.org. In response to questions asked during the town hall webinar regarding the cleanliness of certain facilities, DAS State Building Division responded as follows: […]
Please call Governor Ricketts’ office at 402-471-2244 and tell him that you support NAPE and state workers. On April 15, NAPE leaders delivered nearly 1,700 petitions to Governor Ricketts’ office that members and concerned citizens submitted in the last five days demanding that State Employees be kept safe during the Coronavirus pandemic. The petitions ask […]
Click here to sign a petition to Governor Ricketts! On April 9, NAPE Chairperson Deb Strudl (DHHS, Lincoln) delivered a letter to Governor Pete Ricketts calling on him to protect our members while allowing vital services to continue during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can read the letter here. The NAPE/AFSCME Executive Committee met via conference […]
