A group of more than 3,500 Nevada state employees in administrative and clerical jobs have voted to be part of collective bargaining agreements negotiated by a major state worker union.

Members of the bargaining unit that includes administrative assistants and library technicians agreed Wednesday to receive representation from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 4041. The vote, which received support from 91 percent of participants, must receive final certification from a state board.

These workers already had the right to unionize under a 2019 state law, but Wednesday's vote will allow them to reap benefits of AFSCME's negotiations with the state. The union currently represents about 6,000 state workers across four other bargaining units, so the new group of employees could expand AFSCME's reach in the state workforce by more than 50 percent.

"As admin assistants, we are the backbone of our offices — nothing happens without us," Maria Behic, an administrative assistant at Florence McClure Women's Correctional Center, said in a statement. "And we deserve the dignity and respect that comes with having a unified voice on the job. We look forward to joining our AFSCME family in building our power in the workplace."

It's the first time in nearly two years that AFSCME's ranks have grown. In 2024, tech workers for the DMV and state welfare agency agreed to receive representation from AFSCME, nearly doubling the union's size.

Although unions can negotiate significant benefits for their members, certain perks require legislative approval. That's because the 2019 collective bargaining law was nonbinding and gives the governor power to disregard salary demands if they would strain the state budget

For the ongoing two-year contract period, union officials negotiated 3 percent raises for each year and $4,000 in total retention bonuses. However, because of the state's precarious financial situation last year, lawmakers instead approved $1,000 annual retention bonuses and a 1 percent annual cost of living increase.

There are 15 collective bargaining units for Nevada state employees. With Wednesday's vote, all but two have voted for official union representation. The two that haven't are units that include non-healthcare professional employees and certain supervisory workers.

The vote also comes amid ongoing disputes over collective bargaining for higher education employees.

Although the Nevada System of Higher Education's administrative assistants and faculty have the right to unionize — there are four existing collective bargaining units for faculty — this does not apply to graduate assistants at higher education institutions. A bill to give them that right died in the 2025 Legislature.

Updated on 5/27/26 at 3:03 p.m. to add the current number of AFSCME members.