LINCOLN- Nebraska's public employees, including snow-plow drivers, DMV employees, and Department of Roads diesel mechanics, are severely short-staffed as inflation soars.

Justin Hubly, director of the Nebraska Association of Public Employees, stated, "We're falling behind."

Many of Nebraska's public employees believe that there won't even be enough snow-plow drivers to clear our streets this winter unless job retention and wages can be increased.

To emphasize these points, a rally of Nebraska union members was held outside the State Office Building in Lincoln.

Melissa Haynes, president of the union and a social service employee, stated, "The state remains critically short-staffed at many agencies, and investments are needed to make sure that critical services continue uninterrupted. Our members worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic, and now is the time to invest in them."

Justin Hubly listed several state service issues that have been affecting the state, including several DMV offices that have been closed, a lack of diesel mechanics to repair plows and drivers to operate them, and a backlog of economic assistance applications at the DHHS.

Hubly argued that low wages are causing these issues, claiming that many of these public positions are paying significantly less than the same jobs in private companies.

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