Photo courtesy of NAPE

LINCOLN –  For Justin Hubly of the Nebraska Association of Public Employees the current impasse between Richardson County commissioners and 14 road workers is an obvious attempt to bust the labor union.

Hubly: “It’s the only explanation for their actions. The county’s last best final offer is a public record now at the commission of industrial relations. They’ve outlined everything in order to get this raise that they are allegedly offering, starting in February of 2024. That’s only effective predicated on giving up a number of protections including their union language, their grievance procedure, their dues deduction – things that they’ve had for the duration of last contract and many previous contracts.”

 

Following a federal mediation session, County Commissioner John Caverzagie said there is disagreement about a salary increase starting when the previous contract expired a year ago or in February when the county offered the wage increase.

Hubly: “The county commissioners are saying well, we’re not agreeing to retroactive pay. Well we’re not agreeing to a contract that has zero percent effective July 1, 2023, which is, in effect, what they are offering by saying no retro pay. Retro pay is a talking point for the county because it sounds like ‘boy those road workers are trying to get something they never had.’ Well that’s a zero percent pay increase.”

He said the campaign against the roads union is especially relevant for drivers on rural roads and all Nebraskans.

Hubly: “Every time we attack public workers and don’t or can’t recruit and retain. I think we’re done eight guys in Richardson County that we’ve haven’t been able to replace because people won’t come and work for the wage, that trickles to other counties. It affects all Nebraskans. Nobody is getting rich being a road worker in Richardson County, Nebraska, but they do deserve a fair wage.”

The case in now before the state’s Court of Industrial Relations.