November 2012 Volume 1, Number 6

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.

Contract Provision of the Month: Article 7.2 Work Schedule Changes

News in November:
Article 7.2 Call for Stewards Bargaining Update Tax Plan, Part 4

Often membersparticularly those in 24 hour facilities call with concerns regarding changes to their schedule. Your contract allows Employers to make immediate non-permanent changes in cases of emergency OR provide employees ten work days in advance written notice for permanent schedule changes. Refer to 7.2 below for the complete language. The Employer shall provide ten work days written notice

to the affected employees prior to making changes in their permanent work schedules, except when requested or agreed to by the Employee or in cases of emergency. (An emergency is defined as an unexpected, unforeseen or unanticipated event.) Non-permanent work schedule changes may be made by the Employer in order to respond to emergency staffing needs or in response to employee

requests. At an employees request, the reason for permanent change of schedule will be provided. Note that there are exceptions in the Department of Corrections. For that contract provision, see M.3.3.

We Need You!
NAPE needs active members, and stewards are a key component. A union steward is an employee just like you. They have a job to do every day, and they answer to the same management that you do. The key difference, though, is that a union steward has the training and the tools to help you and other employees solve problems at work. Stewards build the union on the job, get members involved in identifying workplace problems, solve workplace problems with the help of the membership, and keep members informed. If youre interested in becoming a steward, please contact your local steward or the NAPE office to set up steward training.

Bargaining Update: Ratification!

Ratification meetings for the NAPE-State of Nebraska Master Contract will be held the week of December th 10 for NAPE members. All members covered under the contract are encouraged to come to ratification meetings to learn more about the new agreement and vote on its acceptance. In order to attend the meetings and vote, you must be a NAPE member. There will be forms for you to join at the meetings if you are not a member. If you have any questions, you may contact the NAPE Union office at 402 486-3911, or at 1-800-522NAPE. You may also email us at membership@napeafscme.org. Please do not use work equipment to email us, etc. Results should be published early the week of th December 17 . To find out where a ratification meeting near you will occur, check the NAPE/AFSCME website. You can visit our website at www.napeafscme.org.

Heinemans New Tax Proposal and Why Its Important, Part 4

Part 4: Passing the Buck to Local Governments When state and federal legislation cut or underfund budgets, the cost of these cuts are filtered down to local governments in the form of unfunded mandates, passing the buck to counties and citiesand ultimately to local property taxpayers. Remember, the plan for Nebraska could be similar to the recent tax system changes seen in Kansas. The new tax system in Kansas will be completely implemented in 2019 and an article in The Wichita Eagle projects that by that time the state will see a $910 million budget deficit (29 April 2012). The results from this restructuring of the tax system are already being felt across the state. A number of local governments in Kansas, including the City of Lawrence and Sedgwick County, have issued warnings and pleas to the citizens and the legislature identifying what this deficit means for local government. The City of Lawrence has issued a called to legislature to recognize that shifting the budgetary shortfalls to local governments does not solve the problem (www.lawrenceks.org). Already facing mounting shortfalls in 2011, the Kansas Legislature had shortchanged the Lawrence Social and Rehabilitation Services Office, leaving the City of Lawrence and Douglas County to foot the bill in order to offer such vital services to thousands of residents. After such an experience, the city called on their state legislature to include city leaders in any discussions regarding the re-structuring of State tax systems to ensure that State financial obligations are not shifted to local governments or local taxpayers (www.lawrenckes.org). The Sedgwick County Commissioners drafted their legislative in September of 2011 decrying unfunded mandates (The Wichita Eagle, 27 September 2011). As revenue continues to shrink with the elimination of income tax, figures show the costs associated with public education, basic public services, and state infrastructure with continue to increase. Weve already witnessed shrinking budgets for basic public services and state infrastructure here in Nebraskafewer state employees doing more workbut Governor Heinemann has always said that he is a champion for education. Yet in the past few years, education and school districts across the state have seen a drastic reduction in funding. The state already faces a $620 million deficit, in part due to income tax cuts passed this spring and state legislators have already said it is unlikely that education funding will be fully restore. It is difficult to see how the state can raise $1.7 billionthe amount raised annually from the income taxfrom other taxes without further jeopardizing funding from education. Further cuts to education will undoubtedly put a larger strain on local governments to subsidize the shortfalls of the state. Money to fund core services has to come from somewhere, and sales and property taxes are the likely sources. Figures show that sales tax would undoubtedly rise, and cutting the income tax would also create pressure to raise local property taxes, and would shift many responsibilities to county and city governments. A majority of states without an income tax pay more in property taxes than we do in Nebraska. The average Nebraskan pays 3.62% of their income paid toward property tax. If property taxes are already as high as they are in Nebraska, what sort of upswing would we see as unfunded mandates roll down to local governments? Could you afford it? Next month in Part 5: Gutting State Services? well examine what the cuts to state services would look like under Heinemanns plan.

Figures show that sales tax would undoubtedly rise, and cutting the income tax would also create pressure to raise local property taxes, and would shift many responsibilities to county and city governments.

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

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 in 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.

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