Justin Hubly, Executive Director of The Nebraska Association of Public Employees (NAPE)/American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 61, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed efforts to grow the Local under the State Employees Collective Bargaining Act, which he called oppressive.
That law requires public employees to bargain every two years with the Governor’s office, but if negotiations reach an impasse, the matter goes before a state labor board appointed by the governor, whom the employees are actively bargaining against, Hubly said. Worse, he explained, in the case of an impasse, the statute allows the labor board to lower the salaries of public employees. This has led the Local to accept many lowballed contracts in the past, he admitted.
With a membership rate of less than 10 percent, the Local implemented a strategic plan to negotiate better contracts and file grievances over contract violations, Hubly said. Since the plan was enacted, membership doubled upwards of 2,100 members, he added.
Hubly also discussed “denim-gate,” Local 61’s lawsuit against a state agency’s ban on blue jeans in the dress code. The Local claims this ban violates the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The case has gone all the way to the Nebraska Supreme Court, he noted.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics.