Corrections Nurse Stands Up for Her Rights in Body Scanner Victory

https://napeafscme.org/2026/06/01/corrections-nurse-stands-up-for-her-rights-in-body-scanner-victory/

June 1, 2026

NAPE/AFSCME member Holly Talkington is proud of the services she provides to Nebraskans in state custody as a nurse with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS). “I enjoy patient care, getting things ready, and making things happen behind the scenes,” Holly said.

Last year, union members fought to protect our right to negotiate the terms and conditions of employment when NDCS unilaterally implemented body scanning technology at the Reception & Treatment Center in Lincoln. The Nebraska Commission of Industrial Relations (CIR) ruled in our favor by ordering the NDCS to negotiate with our union. Since then, we successfully negotiated protections for our members in our contract.

While the case was pending, NDCS was prohibited from requiring staff who had provided documentation from a medical provider to go through the body scanner. Holly ended up being disciplined despite the CIR order. “I’d never been in trouble before, so it was a bit stressful,” Holly said.

Holly contacted her union rep right away. Together, Holly and her union rep filed a grievance and enforced her rights under our contract. “My union rep did a wonderful job,” Holly said. “I wasn’t alone and had someone in my corner.”

FULL story at link above.