NHCC Employees Win Hard-Fought Union Rights – State Misclassified Employees as “Temporary” Workers

“State has been illegally denying them benefits like healthcare, retirement, paid leave, and yearly cost-of-living raises for far too long.” – CWA Local 7076 Union.

Organization Press release – From the Communications Workers of America Local Union 7076

ALBUQUERQUE, NM · THURSDAY MAY 7, 2026 — Long misclassified as “temporary,” workers at the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC) will be allowed to join CWA Local 7076, with the same benefits and legal protections as other State employees.

Last year, after being denied sick leave and paid time off, workers at the NHCC unionized with Local 7076. Tuesday, May 5, the Public Employee Labor Relations Board (PELRB) ruled unanimously that the State must recognize their Union rights.

“The NHCC runs on the backs of these workers and the State has been illegally denying them benefits like healthcare, retirement, paid leave, and yearly cost-of-living raises for far too long. Some of them have been serving their community at the NHCC for over 20 years,” said Megan Green, President of Local 7076.

The State repeatedly hired workers for one-year contracts with one-day breaks in between, so that they could be claimed as “temporary,” on a “part-time, as-needed basis” and denied benefits. This practice was challenged in Local 7076’s prohibited practices complaint (PPC) against the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and State Personnel Office (SPO). 

After an extended legal battle between CWA and the State, the PERLB directed the the State to “cease and desist” violating the Public Employees Bargaining Act, “process the dues authorization cards” of all eligible and future employees, and make “appropriate compensatory or ‘make whole’ damages related to the improper denial of classified benefits” for the employees named in the PPC.

“We hope that the State will stop wasting taxpayers’ money fighting to deny these workers their legal rights. Our new members are entitled to rights under both State law and our Collective Bargaining Agreement, including damages,” said Green.

“If they continue to fight us, we won’t back down. All workers, especially public workers who serve the people of New Mexico, deserve dignity and respect. We are calling on the Governor to end this fight now and allow these workers to join their Union.”

CWA Local 7076 represents thousands of public workers at 13 agencies across the State of New Mexico.

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