Governor Ricketts and the State of Nebraska have agreed to enter into mid-term contract negotiations for the specific purpose of negotiating pay increases, overtime language, and other working condition language at 24 hour facilities. The State agreed to bargain with NAPE after concerns were raised regarding recent incentive bonuses offered to certain employees. The State […]
Our new NAPE contract provides requirements and guidelines for employee performance evaluations. This includes requiring evaluations adhere to a SMART goal format, and that the evaluation be based solely on the employee’s performance. Department of Administrative Services employee and NAPE member Brian Vanover’s evaluation did not comply with these contractual requirements, and he was denied […]
NAPE’s Biennial Delegate Assembly was held on August 13-15, 2021 at the Courtyard Marriott Lincoln Haymarket. Over 50 delegates attended and participated in conducting important NAPE business, workplace training sessions, and more! At the assembly, the delegates adopted changes to our bylaws, including allowing for virtual contract ratification meetings, changing the titles of Chairperson and […]
In July 2021, NAPE Member and Social Services Worker Terry Texidor-Battle was summoned to a performance counselling meeting with her supervisor. The meeting was held in her supervisor’s cubicle, which is nearby the cubicles of several other coworkers. After the meeting, Terry learned that a coworker had overheard part of the conversation between her and […]
NAPE member and Western Nebraska Veterans’ Home Registered Nurse Rachel Krul had her July 1, 2021 two-step pay increase withheld because she received an unsatisfactory performance evaluation for allegedly not meeting her 2020 SMART goals. Our new NAPE contract provides requirements and guidelines for employee performance evaluations. Included in the contract is language that requires […]
After the election of Melissa Haynes (DHHS, Fremont) as Chairperson and Brian Koch (Corrections, Lincoln) as Vice Chairperson of the NAPE Board of Directors, there are two vacant positions to be filled. The NAPE Board of Directors is the governing board of union members. The Board meets in Lincoln quarterly and by conference call as […]
On May 24, 2021, Governor Ricketts issued Executive Order 21-05, which ordered state code agencies to return to normal in-person operations immediately. This included directing state employees working from home to reduce workforce density due to the COVID-19 pandemic to return to offices in person. Many agencies revised their “Remote Work” policies in response to […]
Union members elected by their fellow union members as delegates convened in Lincoln from August 13-15 for the 2021 NAPE/AFSCME Biennial Delegate Assembly. One of the most important duties for delegates is to elect the five officers of NAPE/AFSCME Local 61. After a secret ballot election, the delegates elected new leaders. Melissa Haynes, a six-year […]
No state employee should ever be disciplined for an unavoidable accident. Alliance based NDOT NAPE member Nathan Payne was plowing snow during a late spring snow storm when his plow caught a pothole causing minor damage to the wing blade of his plow. Nathan immediately reported the incident to his supervisor, but was later served […]
NAPE Member Blayne Glissman works as an Environmental Quality Program Specialist II for the Department of Environment and Energy in Lincoln. In December 2020, Blayne was contacted by a reporter seeking photos and information about the AltEn Ethanol plant located near Mead, NE. Blayne told the reporter he could not help her, and directed her […]
Our NAPE contract allows the State of Nebraska to offer incentive bonuses to employees without having to negotiate over these payments. In late July, the State decided to offer sign-on and retention bonuses for certain job classifications at 24 hour facilities at the Department of Corrections, DHHS, and Veterans’ Affairs. Annual hiring and retention bonuses […]
NAPE represents approximately 180 support staff employees at the Nebraska State College System on its three campuses in Chadron, Peru, and Wayne. After years of stagnation and complacency, NAPE has been organizing the support staff in order to grow membership and win improved wages and working conditions through contract negotiations. The new State College contract […]
NAPE member Tracy Mischke works as a Drivers Licensing Examiner for the DMV in Omaha. In April 2021, Tracy was given a Notice of Allegations (NOA) that claimed she singled out another employee at work via email. However, the NOA did not contain any details or information on the allegations, including the date of the […]
NAPE Member and Steward Evelyn Springer has recently retired after 52 years of service at the State of Nebraska and 46 years as a NAPE Member! Evelyn has been a steward since 1993 and as of July, was the longest tenured NAPE member. Evelyn joined NAPE in 1975, shortly after our union was founded. As […]
The NAPE Biennial Delegate Assembly will convene in Lincoln from August 13-15. Over sixty member delegates gather at the every-two-year convention to conduct the union’s most important business. The Delegate Assembly is the highest decision making body of the union. Delegates were elected by the NAPE membership earlier this year. Delegates will consider suggested changes […]
In February 2020, NAPE won a case in binding arbitration after a grievance was filed challenging the unilateral changes to employee’s dress code requiring certain employees to wear business casual clothing at the Department of Health & Human Services. In late 2020, DHHS filed a lawsuit attempting to overturn the Arbitrator’s binding decision. In our […]
DAS State Personnel (Classification and Compensation Division) reclassified nearly 1,600 state employees into new job classifications in July. This action is a management right unrelated to contract negotiations, however, with the creation of a number of new job classifications, the salary ranges on the new step salary system were negotiated by NAPE. State employees have […]
With our new contract taking effect July 1, a number of exciting changes are taking place. NAPE will continue our meetings across the state throughout the month of July to educate members about the changes in the new contract. During these meetings, we will explain the ins and outs of the new step pay plan […]
Longtime DHHS NAPE Steward Nancy Gamboa has represented fellow employees in Scottsbluff and other parts of the Nebraska Panhandle for over 25 years. Nancy recently filed a grievance on behalf of a NAPE member, and then she received a message from a DHHS Administrator that directed her not to seek out information from fellow employees. […]
Beginning with the 2018-2019 membership year, the NAPE Board of Directors adopted a strategic plan that had a strong emphasis on growing our union through a coordinated organizing campaign, consistent contract enforcement for members, and strong representation at the negotiations table. From July 2018-June 2021, NAPE membership has grown by 62% and now 1 in […]
