Union Fights Democratic Governor for Improved Safety, Pay, and Benefits
Organization Press Release – From The Communications Workers of America CWA 7076
UPDATED STATEMENT Released by CWA 7076 President Megan Green [Friday, September 19, 2025 @ 5:01 PM]:
“This morning, the CWA 7076 Bargaining Team delivered a petition with over 1,300 signatures to the Governor’s office and asked again for her to meet with us to discuss our State Employee issues.
“Following the petition delivery, over 50 Union members and supporters picketed outside of the State Personnel Office to show their support for our bargaining priorities.
“In the afternoon, the CWA 7076 Bargaining Team entered negotiations with the Governor’s designated bargaining representatives, SPO Director Dylan Lange and his team.
“The Governor’s bargaining team was unmoved by the voices of State workers and responded with the same empty platitudes they have been using in lieu of bargaining for the last year.
“After about an hour of unproductive negotiations, the CWA Bargaining team walked out of the meeting and went directly to the Roundhouse, where they once again demanded to meet with the Governor or her Deputy Chief of Staff and designated labor liaison, Diego Arencon.
“We are still waiting to hear back from her team.”
Note From the Editor of The Candle to Look For New Reporting Sunday on Pay Inequity: “As Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham Failed to Address State Employee Pay Inequity Over Past Six Years, Her Labor Advisor, Diego Arencon, Saw His Salary Grow From $90,000 to $208,000 a year.”
Initial Press Release – From The Communications Workers of America CWA 7076
SANTA FE, NM — After a year of contract bargaining stalled over improvements to safety, pay, and benefits, Communication Workers of America (CWA) Local 7076 delivered a petition demanding fair bargaining to the Governor’s office, signed by over 1,300 State Employees and supporters. Union members then rallied at the State Personnel Office in a show of solidarity.
The Union attempted to deliver their petition to the Governor in person, but their requests to meet went unanswered.
(A Copy of the CWA Employee Petition Demanding Fair Bargaining by the Lujan Grisham Administration Can Be Found at the End of This Article.)
“I don’t understand why Governor Lujan Grisham won’t stick up for her own workers. I don’t
know how you can say you fight for working families or Unions when you leave your own employees behind,” said Dylan Pell, CWA Local 7076 Steward and board member representing the Department of Health.
Negotiations are at a standstill as the Governor’s team have refused to bargain agreements on issues as basic as ensuring State facilities are safe for employees and the public.
CWA 7076 workers include nurses in rural communities, scientists protecting our water and air, epidemiologists fighting New Mexico’s opioid epidemic, social workers supporting children and families in emergencies, stewards of the state’s cultural heritage, and thousands more.
That means we can’t provide the full services New Mexicans need,” said Megan Green, CWA Local 7076 President. “With the ongoing attack on the federal workforce, it’s critical that the state is able to recruit and retain skilled professionals who enable agencies to fulfill their missions.”
Fair Bargaining Now!
The Union’s petition demands the Governor negotiate in good faith on the following items:
Guaranteed Cost of Living Raises: We are fighting for better pay and cost-of-living raises that keep up with inflation. As State employees, we fall behind every year that our legislative raises don’t meet the rising cost of living. This makes it impossible for us to plan for our families’ futures
Remote Work and Alternate Work Locations: We know that we can work from many locations across our beautiful state. We are fighting for modern business practices that can help with work life/balance and bring jobs back to rural communities. Less commute time means fewer cars on the road and more time with our families. When building safety issues arise, we are being sent home on paid administrative leave and fall behind on our work, when we could be productively working from another location if these policies were in place.
More Paid Leave: In 2024, the Legislature paid Deloitte over a million dollars to identify areas where the State could improve as an employer. One of the key findings was that our annual leave offerings were not competitive with other similar employers. We have proposed increased annual leave accrual rates that are similar to both other local and national government employers. Paid Parental Leave, as granted through a 2020 Executive Order, has been one of the most impactful changes made to State employment in recent years. The benefit of being able to grow our families while not having to worry about the financial
impact is so important to so many of us. We are proposing that Paid Parental Leave be enshrined in our contract, to support families and to ensure that we have access to this important benefit in future administrations.
Better Workplace Health and Safety: We are fighting for safer working conditions and safer worksites. Documents obtained from a recent Inspection of Public Records Act request showed that many buildings lack emergency action plans placing both workers and the public in danger. We also learned that agencies aren’t holding the required Health and Safety Committee or Prevention and Loss Committee meetings, or providing basic health and safety training to employees.
Local 7076 represents thousands of Union employees working at thirteen state agencies. The Union has presented these proposals to the Governor’s Chief Bargaining Agent, SPO Director Dylan Lange, many times over the course of the last year, but each time, Lange and the Governor’s team has returned to the bargaining table unwilling to negotiate on these topics.
“Never in my 30 years of Union work have I encountered a management bargaining team so ignorant of Labor law.” Jana Smith-Carr, CWA District 7 Representative and member of the Local 7076 bargaining team.
Union workers have the right to bargain the conditions of their employment.
Under the Trump administration, workers’ rights are under attack and in danger of being destroyed nationwide.
There is no more important time for Governor Lujan Grisham to show support for civil rights, including workers’ rights. Now is the time for the Governor to support workers at the bargaining table and protect workers’ rights instead of dismantling them.