May 2013 Volume 2, Number 5

The NAPE Connection

The NAPE Connection is meant to highlight important news releases, events, grievance decisions, contract information, and upcoming activities. Our hope is that individuals will get connected, not only with their Union, but with each other.

Prohibited Practice Charge Against DOCS

News in February:
Prohibited Practice Charge Filed Against DOCS Its Convention Time! Whats in Your File? Rally at the Capital Lincoln CLC Picnic

Yesterday afternoon, NAPE/AFSCME filed a petition with the Commission of Industrial Relations (CIR) against the Department of Corrections. This petition was filed due to the fact that Corrections is implementing a voluntary 12 hour shift at Tecumseh Corrections Institution, without requesting to negotiate it with us. NAPE is the recognized and certified bargaining unit for employees. To implement such a plan, whether voluntary or not, has ramifications for employees and is a huge violation of our contract. It affects leave, holidays, overtime, posts, seniority, etc. While we are not saying we are necessarily opposed to the idea, we are not saying we support it either, and certainly not done this way. This is something that HAS to be brought to us to consider to negotiate.

NAPE has asked the CIR to order the Agency to: cease and desist, to post notice to employees promising not to commit the same prohibited practices, to negotiate with us any future desired changes and make no changes without doing so.
In conjunction with the prohibited (unfair labor) practice filed with the CIR, we have filed several grievances on the notification of this 12 hour shift. We will try to keep folks updated as the hearing and the case moves forward through email and social media.

Article 22: Do you know whats in your file?!

Section 22.1 of the State Contract allows employees to review and inspect their personnel file. Its helpful to review your personnel file peridocially. What is included? When was it included? Where you aware of its inclusion? Upon review of your personnel file, if you discover that non-routine information has been included without your knowledge, a grievance may be warranted per 22.5. Also, have you requested removal of your applicable disciplinary actions lately? You can request disciplinary actions be removed from your file after two years from when the discipline was imposed, except for issues of workplace harassment which require a four year waiting period (See 22.7).

Medicaid Expansion Rally at the Capital

With a small group of opponents obstructing a bill in the Legislature that will help our working families get access to health care and boost our states economy, its time to make your voice heard!
Join Nebraska Appleseed on the west steps of the Nebraska State Capitol on Wednesday, May 15 at 5:30 for a public rally to show state senators we stand with the 54,000 uninsured Nebraskans and tell them LB 577 deserves a vote! Expanding Medicaid means more than 10,000 new jobs, including more jobs for the state. More jobs mean more members. More members mean a stronger union! What: LB 577 Deserves a Vote public rally Where: Nebraska State Capitol, 14th and K Street When: Wednesday, May 15, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Mark Your Calendars! The NAPE/AFSCME Convention is September 28-29, 2013

Our biennial convention and delegate assemble has been set for September 28 and 29, 2013 in Lincoln. Nominations and elections for delegates and alternate delegates shall be conducted at your local district meeting in June, except for the Panhandle and Sandhills districts. You should receive an announcement in the mail in the next few weeks with the date, time, and place of your meeting. Who can serve as a delegate? To be eligible for election as a delegate, a member must have been a dues paying member at least one year prior to the date of election. Candidates can be nominated by ay member, or may nominate themselves. Each delegate shall be elected by a majority of votes cast in the election. Districts may elect one alternate for each delegate. The number of delegates from each district shall be determined by the number of active members in each district as of January 1st 2013. To get more information and vote for your delegates, come to your district meeting in June!

Lincoln Central Labor Council Solidarity Picnic: Saturday, June 15th 2013
The Lincoln Central Labor Union will be holding their 6th Annual Solidarity Picnic on Saturday, June 15th from 10am-2pm at the Lincoln Labor Temple (4625 Y Street).There is no admission fee. Union members and their families are encouraged to attend and get to know other union members and their families from the area.

District Meeting
The purpose of these meetings is to share information, gain knowledge about the Union and communicate with other members. During NAPE District Meetings information from the local board, news from the unicameral, workplace concerns and other current topics are discussed. Greater Lincoln District: Meetings are held on the 2 Tuesday of the month at 5:30pm the Lincoln Labor Temple, 4625 Y Street in Lincoln. Greater Omaha District: Meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 6pm at Lanskys, which is located off of 50th and L Streets in Omaha. Greater York District: Meetings are held the 2nd Thursday of every month at 5:30pm Kilgore Memorial Library, 520 Nebraska Avenue in York. Ponca District: Meetings are held on the 3 Tuesday of the month from 12pm at Wayne State College South Central District: Meetings are held the 4th Tuesday of every month at the IBEW/CWA meeting room, which is located at 3302 Capitol Avenue (corner of Webb Rd and Capital Ave) at 7pm. South East District: Meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month at the Tecumseh Public Library located at 170 Branch Street at 6:30pm Other District Meetings do not have set times or locations, but do occur. If you dont see your District Meeting, please call the NAPE office to see when your next meeting is planned.
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We are only as strong as our membership! Dont wait! Ask your coworkers to join. We need to stand together!

NAPE/AFSCME Local 61 5625 O Street, Suite 10 Lincoln, NE 68510 PHONE: (402) 486-3911 (800) 522-6273 FAX: (402) 486-3924

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See us at:
www.napeafscme.com AND www.facebook.com

If you ever have anything you would like to see included in The NAPE Connection, please forward your stories and suggestions to cfogale@nape.afscme.org If youd like to receive The NAPE Connection in your inbox everything month, please provide us with your name and home email address. Requests can be sent directly to cfogale@napeafscme.org or call us at (800) 522-NAPE to get your name on our email list.

NAPE/AFSCME LOCAL 61 5625 O Street, Suite 10 Lincoln, NE 68503