Legislative Session Will Be a Test

All NDU members can play a part in protecting quality public education and services

By Sarah Keiser, NDU Communications

The members and leaders of North Dakota United had big plans for the 2021 Legislative Assembly, a year ago. Huge. We were building a bold, proactive legislative agenda for the next session, which kicks off January 5, 2021, in Bismarck.

President Nick Archuleta held listening sessions in communities across the state to gather input and feedback on what issues are most important to our members in Bismarck, Dickinson, Fargo, Grand Forks, Jamestown, Mandan and West Fargo. Sessions specifically designed for public employees and higher education faculty and staff were also held in Bismarck and at North Dakota State University in Fargo and University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.

And then, there was the pandemic.

“There is no doubt that the effects of COVID-19 have had a profoundly negative impact on the economy in ND and across the country,” President Archuleta said. “As the world shut down last March, demand for oil dropped precipitously, and the result was that the tax revenue derived from the oil industry and the industries that support oil production dried up significantly. So, yes, the Legislature will have some very difficult funding issues to resolve. But we believe that investing in higher education, our state’s workforce and PK-12 education are worthy investments that will pay dividends to the state for years to come. Funding our state’s intellectual infrastructure is every bit as important as funding its physical infrastructure.”

As we waited with bated breath throughout the year, we began to wonder how the COVID-19 pandemic would affect all aspects of our lives, including NDU’s legislative agenda. It became increasingly clear that this upcoming legislative session will be drastically different than what was originally expected. What we proactively go after, what we have to

defend, and how we do it had to all change and shift.

At the time of this publication, many things are still unclear. What we do know is that your North Dakota United lobbying team will work tirelessly to not only maintain your current rights, salaries, benefits and working conditions but to also improve in as many of those areas as possible.

We currently are also proactively looking at specific issues such as perpupil payments, teacher mentorship program, threshold on bond issues, early childhood experiences, paid family leave, binding arbitration, and collective bargaining. NDU undoubtedly will also have to play a strong defensive game this session, likely on topics such as education savings accounts, teacher licensure, health insurance, pensions and shortening the bargaining window.

Most of all, we know that we will need YOU. It is your voice – your expertise, your experiences – that the North Dakota legislators most listen to. Be assured NDU will be calling on you to help with legislative activism. More information will be made available in the coming weeks on specific programs and projects.

President Archuleta said that every member of our union can help in some really big ways, this session. “North Dakota United members can play an outsized role in advocating for themselves and their colleagues during the 67th Legislative Assembly,” he said. “For the first time ever, every committee hearing will be livestreamed and recorded. This will give our members and all citizens the opportunity to hear testimony for and against specific proposed legislation in real time. Furthermore, members of the public can offer virtual testimony before the various legislative committees. Nothing like this has ever been done in North Dakota, and we hope that with increased transparency comes increased involvement from ND United members and others.”

Staying connected to what is happening in the Legislature is especially important, and NDU Communications will be making every effort to keep you informed. “Our members can connect to our website, www.ndunited.org, and sign up to become member activists,” President Archuleta said. On the front page, look for the “Be an NDU Activist!” link, or send an e-mail to sarah.johnson@ndunited.org. “In this role, our members can help to shape our narrative as well as public opinion by taking specific actions that require very little time but can have a very large impact.”

By joining our list of member activists, you can help amplify the message to every legislator this session that public education and public services are too important for our state’s collective future to starve out during these tough times. “North Dakota’s public servants – be they educators, researchers, education support professionals or state employees – have been under incredible stress,” Archuleta said. “The Legislature has a tremendous opportunity to relieve that stress and improve morale by investing in the areas of public service that are critical to the success of economic recovery and long-term health.”