January 2013 Volume 2, Number 1

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.

NAPE/AFSCME is on FacebookLike us!

Do you want the most up-to-date NAPE news? Are you on Facebook?

News in November:
NAPE on Facebook Contract Provision of the Month: 9.1 Tax Plan, Finale Steward Training How to Talk NAPE webinar Head on over to Facebook, find the Nebraska Association of Public Employees/AFSCME page and click Like. Afterwards, invite your friends to like us too! Yes, its a fledging page, but we vow to keep you informed with new and important information, as well as access to the NAPE Connection, local events, and statewide reminders for district meetings, steward trainings, and a lot more!

Contract Provision of the Month: 9.1 Transfers, Promotions, and Filling Vacant Positions
When a current state employee applies for a new position, questions about how the position is awarded often come up. Article 9.1 of the contract explains how the hiring process should be conducted and what factors are to be considered. 9.1 Whenever a vacant occurs in a position the Employer intends to fill in any bargaining unit, a notice of such vacancy shall be posted on bulletin boards, or electronic bulletin boards where used, normally used for communicating with bargaining unit employees in the Agency or specific facility in which the vacancy exists stating the job title, description, qualifications, shift, designated days off, and work area, date of availability, pay range, and closing date for applicant. Exclusions to vacancy posting relating to specific agencies may be mutually agreed to in writing by the parties. The Employer shall make reasonable efforts to post vacancies internally at least one day prior to external advertisements. Upon posting employees may apply for the position in writing for a period of not less than seven calendar days. The employer shall fill job vacancies using factors of: a) knowledge, experience, and ability; b) any job related tests, and c) Agency affirmative action plans, and Veterans preference, which shall be applied consistently among applicants. Where applicants rate substantially the same on such factors, permanent state employees applicants shall be selected, and where two state employee applicants rate substantially the same, the more senior employee shall be selected. (Department of Roads employees covered by this Contract see Appendix D for vacancy posting provisions.)

(DHHS employees covered by this Contract see Appendix C for vacancy posting provisions.)

Eliminiating Personal and Corporate Income Tax: Bringing it All Together

For the past six months, The NAPE Connection has explored a proposal to eliminate or reduce Nebraskas personal and corporate income tax. The plan, similar to those seen in neighboring states, would reduce up to 56% of the states general fund revenue money that pays for education, roads, health care, and other critical services. So while paying less sounds appealing, the consequences would be devastatingand would, in all likelihood, increase taxes via property and sales tax for the vast majority of Nebraskans. Ranking after national ranking tells us that Nebraska is doing well. We have the second lowest unemployment rate in the nation. We are ranked in the top 10 states to do business. We are doing well. So why would we want to put that success at risk? Kansas is a prime example of the havoc caused when state income tax is reduced: Projections estimate that Kansas will face a $910 million deficit by 2019. Nebraskas own shortfall has already been projected to see $393 million this fiscal year. Can we afford to tack on hundreds of millions more? Nebraskans have priorities for our families, neighbors, and businesses in our communities and taxes provide for those priorities. We cannot risk the critical investments that make our state strong, by doing away with such a large portion of our states revenue. We give each other a hand up, not a hand outthats how we build strong school, communities and a vibrant business sector. Doing away with Nebraskas income tax is a bad idea.

Get Ready: How to Talk NAPE Training

Union members are the best tool we have for recruiting new members. You know the job better than anyone else and you know why you joined NAPE. Have you ever wanted to talk to your coworkers about joining, but you werent sure what to say? In the coming months, NAPE will be looking to develop How to Talk NAPE training classes to get members more comfortable talking to their coworkers about their union. We are looking at web-based training to start with the potential for on-site classes later on. If this sounds like something you would like to participate in, let us know so we can set our first training date. Call the NAPE office at (800) 5226273 or email cfogale@napeafscme.org.

Steward Training: Are You In?

The start of the 2013 means the start of new steward training. We need stewards! Steward Training will be held in Lincoln on Saturday, January 19th at the NAPE office from 10-4pm. Upcoming steward trainings in Omaha and Norfolk will be happening soon. Current stewards that feel like a refresher are also encouraged to attend. Call the NAPE office at (800) 522-6273 to RSVP to attend or for more details.

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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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