COLA among NFA priorities for upcoming legislative session |
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With inflation running around 2.5% and the retirement contribution rate set to increase another 1.75% this July, the NFA is lobbying the legislature for minimum cost-of-living adjustments of 5% in FY26 and 3% in FY27 to avoid further erosion of faculty salaries. |
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The NFA was just one of many employee organizations advocating in the 2023 Legislature for the historic cost of living adjustments of 12% in FY24 and 11% in FY25. Vigorous NFA campaigns also helped convince the Board of Regents to vote in favor of the adjustments. Although they provided some long-overdue financial relief for NSHE faculty, average salaries have only returned to early pandemic-era levels when adjusted for inflation, and the NFA will continue to advocate for greater salary increases. |
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Besides the adjustments themselves, the NFA will support NSHE's request that the Legislature fund compensation adjustments for NSHE at 80%, the same rate as all other state agencies.
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NFA Advocates for 5% COLA in 2025 and 3% in 2026 |
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NFA targets collective bargaining, BOR reform, retiree benefits, and higher education funding for legislative action
The Nevada Faculty Alliance will actively advocate for our members during the 2025 Nevada legislative session. Visible member support is invaluable at the Legislature and we encourage anyone wishing to be involved in our lobbying efforts to join us. Please complete this Google form to indicate your issue priorities, preferred level of involvement, and frequency of contact during the session. More than 7,000 higher education professionals work in NSHE, making it the largest single group of public sector employees without collective bargaining rights in Nevada law. Securing those rights will continue to be the NFA's top priority in the 2025 legislative session. A proposal supported by NFA passed both chambers in 2023, but was vetoed by Governor Lombardo at the end of the session. Assemblywoman Natha Anderson (D-Sparks) is sponsoring the legislation this year. Separately, the NFA is backing the UAW's proposal to organize NSHE graduate assistants into their own collective bargaining unit.
The NFA is also advocating for the restoration of subsidies of health benefits for retirees who were hired after 2011. Although retirees hired after that date remain eligible to enroll in the health benefits plan provided by the state, their premiums will not be subsidized like those hired before the cutoff date. The subsidies were eliminated as a cost-saving measure during the Great Recession, although significant savings will not materialize for several years since few employees, if any, hired after 2011 are eligible to retire. Restoring the subsidies now will have minimal immediate impacts on the state budget. The NFA is also actively advocating for maintaining and restoring PEBP benefits for active employees.
The NFA is also supporting legislation to mandate training for all members of the Board of Regents. Currently, the only qualification to hold a seat on the Board is residency in the seat's district. Legislation should require training for regents similar to requirements for members of local school boards.
Additionally, NFA officers will testify in support of multiple budget issues that impact NSHE, including the $21 million one-time funding request to transition to the new budget distribution formula, and campus safety enhancements. |
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NFA legislative requests based on objective research
Analyzing information from sources such as faculty surveys, NSHE reports, and public documents acquired through Freedom of Information Act requests forms the basis for NFA advocacy on behalf of faculty before the Legislature and the Board of Regents. The NFA has posted reports on salary trends and faculty opinions regarding issues ranging from compensation to campus climates. |
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AFT president visits UNLV teacher preparation program |
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From left to right:
AFT President Randi Weingarten, Nevada State Senator Marilyn Dondero Loop, UNLV-NFA President Doug Unger, and Nevada Superintendent of Public Instruction Jhone Ebert.
UNLV's Nevada Forward program, an accelerated teacher preparation and apprenticeship program, was the center of attention last week when AFT President Randi Weingarten visited the Las Vegas campus with an entourage of state and education leaders to learn more about the innovative approach to training K-12 educators. In a Bluesky post, Weingarten touted the initiative for addressing teacher shortages, workforce diversity, and affordability. "This Grow Your Own program is exactly the kind of innovation we want to see," she posted.
UNLV-NFA President Doug Unger was on hand to greet Weingarten and the other participants.
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UNLV’s teacher initiative gains national attention |
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PEBP decision on EPO/HMO options expected this month
The PEBP Board meeting on January 23rd will be the final opportunity for public input on a proposal that may eliminate critical health care options for state workers. First introduced last October, the proposal recommends eliminating the Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) and Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) choices from the state benefits plan.
The NFA has consistently voiced its opposition to the proposed changes and has encouraged members of the Board of Regents to communicate these concerns on behalf of all NSHE employees to the PEBP Board as well. Vocal opposition from public sector employees, including faculty who responded to NFA's call to action, prompted the PEBP Board to postpone their decision in October and conduct further analysis.
Prior to making their final decision, members of the PEBP Board will participate in a closed session on January 16th where confidential proposals for a new HMO provider contract will be discussed. The vote will take place a week later.
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PEBP proposals are concerning for state employees |
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Social Security Fairness Act restores benefits to thousands of NSHE workers |
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AFT President Randi Weingarten looks on as President Joe Biden signs the Social Security Fairness Act on January 6, 2025
Following a concerted effort by numerous public sector unions, including NFA and its affiliate, the American Federation of Teachers, Congress enacted the Social Security Fairness Act in December, which President Joe Biden signed into law last week.
The statute is a huge victory for Nevada's state workers since it eliminates the discriminatory reduction of Social Security benefits due to the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). These rules penalized those who worked in both the public and private sectors by decreasing their Social Security benefits because of their government pensions and retirement plans. The law eliminates these penalties, allowing Nevada state workers, including hundreds of NSHE academics, to receive the full Social Security benefits they earned based on the contributions they made over the length of their careers.
Hundreds of NFA members responded to our action alert on November 25th by contacting Senators Cortez-Masto and Rosen and encouraging them to vote for the legislation.
READ MORE >> Social Security Fairness Act Enacted! |
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The Nevada Faculty Alliance
https://nevadafacultyalliance.org |
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