March 2013 Volume 2, Number 3

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.

LB561: The Fights to Save the YRTCs

News in February:
LB561 & YRTCs Retiree Chapter LB309 seeks to improve HHS Contract Provision of the Month: What is a Grievance? AON Dependent Audit Grievances are resolved

On Thursday, March 7th, NAPE members from YRTC Kearney came to Lincoln to speak on LB561. Members like Arron Adams and Robin Smith asked the Judiciary Committee to support the YRTCs with increased staff, training and the tools to try to make the centers work how they were envisioned to work. Even while the Agency itself has appeared to give up on the YRTCs and testified in support of LB561, which set a closure date of January 2015 for both YRTC facilities, NAPE is working with members, the YRTC teacher union, and community leaders to stop to the closure of the facilities. NAPE members have circulated a letter to state senators, as well as the Judiciary Committee; contacted key community organizations, including the Kearney Area Chamber of Commercewhich had not previously taken a position on the bill; met to discuss strategy and collect information; and are speaking out against the closure. NAPE/AFSCME will continue to fight the closures. LB561 has been designated as a priority bill, and while the bill will likely be amended to remove any immediate closure, the Judiciary Committee is looking at an eventual consolidation of Kearney and Geneva which may leave some front-line staff out of work. We believe front-line workers familiar with the intricacies and needs of the juvenile services system must be invited to participate in driving the system in the right direction. The invaluable insight that may be provided by YRTC staff and teachers should be considered.
As always, we are stronger when we work together!

Retiring? NAPE needs you!

NAPE/AFSCME has a Retiree Chapter and we are looking for retirees to participate. The retiree chapter meets quarterly for lunch in Lincoln to discuss important issues effecting retirees, pending legislation, and ways to increase membership. If you are nearing retirement or have a coworker who is, please contact the NAPE office to find out more about our Retiree Chapter, (402) 486-3911.

Contract Provision of the Month: 4.1 Grievance

Sometimes bargaining unit employees want to file a grievance, but no violation of the Labor Contract has occurred.

Members and non-members should know how a grievance is defined per our contract: 4.1 A grievance is a written complaint alleging a violation involving the application and interpretation of the provisions of this labor contract So while an incident at your workplace might be unfair or unjust, it must also be a violation of the contract in order to grieve. When such violations occur, contact your NAPE steward as soon as possible to get the grievance procedure started.

Personnel Decision of Note: All AON Dependent Audits grievances have been resolved!
NAPE/AFSCME has successfully resolved all seven grievances involving disciplinary actions dealt in regards to AON Hewitt Dependent Audits conducted in 2011-2012. In each case we were able to settle the grievance at or prior to arbitration reversing or lessening the disciplinary actions administered by the agenciesand all terminated employees were brought back to work.

Our membership also grew by a new member after one grievant was brought back to work!

LB309: Streamlining (No)AccessNebraska

Friend of NAPE and newly elected State Senator, Kate Bolz, introduced LB309 this legislative session with the hope of improving HHS (No)AccessNebraska. The bill looks to streamline benefits, benefiting both the client and the worker by synchronizing renewals and using attestation where appropriate to eliminate duplicative work and allow staff to focus on reducing the back loggiving clients the quality service staff wants to give them. Last week, NAPE Executive Director, Julie Dake Abel, testified in support of this bill. Ideally, such a passage would bring more staff to HHS already struggling system, making AccessNebraska more accessible and more efficient for the worker and the clients.

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 first Saturday of every month at 11am. and 3pm in Lincoln at the NAPE Office conference room in the basement, 5625 O Street. 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 3rd Thursday of every month at 5pm Kilgore Memorial Library, 520 Nebraska Avenue in York.

We are only as strong as our membership! Dont wait! Ask your coworkers to join. We need to stand together!

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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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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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