State Staffing Shortages Has Union Looking For Raises That Keep Up With Inflation

From Nebraska Examiner:

By Paul Hammel

September 12, 2022

LINCOLN — Could the State of Nebraska lack enough workers to plow the snow off highways this winter?

Nebraska’s public employees union thinks so and will be seeking salary increases that keep up with inflation to combat shortages of highway maintenance workers and others in labor negotiations that will begin later this month.

“We’re falling behind,” said Justin Hubly, executive director of the Nebraska Association of Public Employees, as inflation hovers around 9%.

Rally scheduled Tuesday

To emphasize the point, a rally of union members is planned Tuesday from 5-6 p.m. on Centennial Mall, just outside the State Office Building in Lincoln, by NAPE/AFSCME Local 61, which represents about 8,000 state workers.

“The state remains critically short staffed at many agencies, and investments are needed to make sure that critical services continue uninterrupted,” said Melissa Haynes, president of the union and a social services worker.

“Our members worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic, and now is the time to invest in them,” Haynes said in a press release.

Hubly cited several instances where state services have been cut back or are threatened to be reduced because of staff shortages:

• The Department of Motor Vehicles has temporarily closed numerous locations due to staffing shortages.
• The Nebraska Department of Transportation is short of workers to plow state highways this winter and short of diesel-truck mechanics to repair plows.
• A large backlog of economic assistance applications is waiting to be processed at the Department of Health and Human Services.

Diesel mechanics lacking

Hubly said wages for certain job classifications, such as diesel mechanic, have fallen way behind the private market. DOR offers just under $19 an hour, but private companies are offering much more, he said.

A state website indicates several job openings for highway maintenance worker, a job that starts at $16.62 an hour.

Hubly said it’s been demonstrated that significant raises will fill vacancies, citing the 15% wage increases provided by the Ricketts administration for providers of health services.

Incidentally, the Department of Roads is offering $4,000 bonuses for diesel mechanics who are hired.

The contract negotiations will be for a two-year contract.

Nebraskans want accountability from their elected officials and government. They want to know whether their tax dollars are being well-spent, whether state agencies and local governments are responsive to the people and whether officials, programs and policies are working for the common good. The Nebraska Examiner is a nonprofit, independent news source committed to providing news, scoops and reports important to our state.