AFSCME NMSU Members Make History – Again!

May 10, 2007

FAIR CONTRACT NOW! – AFSCME NMSU members rallied outside the New Mexico State University’s Hadley Hall on Feb. 22 demanding a fair pay raise and contract.

Photo Credit:

Dave Paladino

AFSCME Local 2393 members at New Mexico State University (NMSU) made groundbreaking progress in just a month by ironing out a first contract with the university administration. Now, that agreement has been ratified by an overwhelming 492 to 15 vote, sending a strong message of unity and support for their union.

“I am very pleased. We worked really hard to reach an agreement,” says Barbara Arispe, a records technician at NMSU’s Doña Ana Cooperative Extension Service and part of the Local 2393 (Council 18) bargaining team that negotiated for seven months with university authorities.

The three-year contract, which was also ratified by the NMSU Board of Regents, will guarantee rights and benefits for the university’s nearly 1,300 “non-exempt” workers – custodial staff, housekeepers, librarians and office support, among others.

“We look forward to a growing and productive partnership with the NMSU administration,” adds Arispe.

The agreement includes wage increases as of July 1, 2007, as well as in 2008 and 2009. In addition, employee health insurance premiums will be cut by 43 percent to 50 percent within a three-year period, saving members hundreds of dollars (read highlights of the agreement on the AFSCME NMSU site).

Non-exempt workers overwhelmingly voted to join AFSCME NMSU on May 2006, shortly after which they started negotiating their first contract. Their efforts garnered the support of students, faculty, area state legislators and allies from the community. 

AFSCME represents more than 14,000 public employees in New Mexico as well as over 100,000 college and university staff around the country.