Advertisement 'Our members are scared and are anxious': Union petitions governor for safer conditions Share Shares Copy Link Copy

As Gov. Pete Ricketts encourages Nebraskans to stay home, some state workers say they want him to follow his own advice.On Wednesday, members of the Nebraska Association of Public Employees turned in a petition with 1,700 signatures. It calls on Ricketts to close down local service centers for two weeks, allow more employees to work from home and increase pay for those who can't by $2 an hour."Our members are scared and are anxious," said NAPE Executive Director Justin Hubly.He showed photos of state employees working in cubicles that are closer than 6-feet apart. One staff member even constructed a cardboard barrier.He said some older employees with pre-existing health conditions have not been allowed to work from home."They've asked their supervisor, 'Please let me work from home.' And the supervisor says, 'I can't accommodate that request," Hubly said.Union members said other businesses have given their workers a bump in salary for hazard pay. They also believe shutting down local service centers during the projected surge will protect the public."I can't go to my eye doctor right now, my eye doctor's office is closed. But I could go down to the DMV right now and put my face up against the eyeglass test and take the eyeglass test right now. I don't know if that needs to happen in the next two weeks," Hubly said.The governor's response was quick and definitive."This gets back to the expectations to people in Nebraska. Hey, we're the state we're supposed to be doing these things. This is our job," Ricketts said.Nebraska Department of Administrative Services Director Jason Jackson said 40% of state employees are working from home. He said that will expand as software glitches get fixed. He argued now would be the worst time to shutdown or reduce services."There's a lot of displacement in the workplace, a lot of families in need. Right now is not the time to contemplating raises to government employees or closing down services," Jackson said.Deb Strudl works in adult protective services for the Department of Health and Human Services. "We need to serve our clients. I am a frontline worker," Strudl said. "I don't mind that. Would I like to be compensated, yeah, if I go home and infect my kids my grandkids something like that."