Nebraska state employees union enters negotiation phase for next two-year contract

LINCOLN — On the eve of new negotiations beginning for their next two-year contract, members of the largest union representing Nebraska state employees gathered near the state Capitol to share what terms they’re seeking.

The Nebraska Association of Public Employees, known to many as NAPE/AFSCME, will begin contract negotiations Wednesday with state officials to set the terms of the next two-year labor contract, which runs from July 1, 2027-June 30, 2029. The negotiations phase typically lasts through December, though NAPE Executive Director Justin Hubly said their members will be at the table for as long as it takes to reach an agreement.

Members said their top goal is to secure wage increases that keep up with inflation. Hubly said they are hoping to track wages with the Consumer Price Index, which he estimated would amount to about 3%-4% increases per year.

Last year, NAPE officials reached an agreement with Gov. Jim Pillen’s negotiators to provide raises between 6.5% and 19% over the next two years. Coming off that, along with the state’s continuing budget deficit, Hubly said meeting that goal would be challenging, though he’s optimistic.

“They will try to balance the budget on our backs if we don’t continue to negotiate,” Hubly said.

Hubly and other NAPE members said negotiators will need to get creative to balance the state’s financial strain and their requests. Madeline Kettler, communications specialist for Nebraska’s Department of Veterans’ Affairs, raised the idea of promoting remote work as a way of limiting physical office space — referencing an ongoing dispute between Pillen’s office and the union.

Kettler also highlighted issues with high turnover among state employees, estimating the annual rate to be just under 20%. She said the state could save money by replacing retirees with entry-level workers, but argued that competitive salaries are needed to recruit young workers.

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Kettler pushed for benefits such as paid maternity leave for all new parents. NAPE’s current contract offers six weeks of paid maternity leave for eligible mothers under the Family and Medical Leave Act, which was just added in the latest round of negotiations.

In addition to wage increases, Hubly said NAPE’s next priority is stabilizing health insurance costs for members. Brandon Brown, senior agent for the Nebraska Department of Revenue, said health insurance premiums have risen nearly 25% over two years, cutting into employee salaries.

Hubly said state employees’ current health care plan guarantees a minimum level of coverage, which means costs can spike in years with catastrophic claims. He said this is why premiums have risen, and it prompted NAPE members to consider if there should be changes to the coverage plans the state offers.

“Maybe there is a time and a place to change coverage in order to help control costs,” Hubly said. “But we want to voice it now. We don’t want to just leave that to the governor to choose.”