LINCOLN- Representatives of at least three Lincoln unions contend that the new parental leave policies enacted by the city earlier this year have unfairly excluded many union employees. The sticking points are different for each union: For the Public Association of Government Employees, it is largely about pay. Firefighters wanted a path forward to discuss cost of living increases on their pensions and wanted to institute different rules regarding shifts for paramedics.

But both unions took issue with the way the city has handled a new paid parental leave benefit. The benefit was extended to non-union employees effective at the end of June, but Lincoln-Lancaster County Human Resources Director Barb McIntyre said national labor rules require that any benefit — even one considered a gift — needs to be negotiated through the union.

The effect has been that many union employees still do not have paid parental leave. The union that represents county corrections employees filed a lawsuit over the issue with the Commission of Industrial Relations last month, alleging that excluding union employees from the benefit is a prohibited practice and asked that corrections employees be given the benefit retroactive to June.

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