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  • Michelle Lujan Grisham
    Governor
  • Dylan K. Lange
    Director
  • Cynthia Sandoval
    Deputy Director
  • State Personnel Board
  • Sandra D. Lopez, Chair
  • Carol A. Parker, Vice Chair
  • Kari Fresquez, Member
  • L. Teresa Padilla, Member
  • Fred Radosevich, Member

Address: 2600 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505-3258
Phone: (505) 476-7759 | Fax: (505) 476-7949 | Web: https://www.spo.state.nm.us/

Date:

March 6, 2026

To:

Cabinet Secretaries and Agency Labor Relations: Aging and Longterm Services Department; Children, Youth & Families Department; Homeland Security & Emergency Management; Division of Vocational Rehab; Department of Workforce Solutions; New Mexico State Fair Commission; New Mexico Corrections Department; Department of Transportation; Office of the Superintendent of Insurance; Public Regulation Commission; Regulation & Licensing Department; Taxation & Revenue Department; Department of Cultural Affairs; Department of Health; Early Childhood Education and Care Department; Health Care Authority; Commission for the Blind; Department of Information Technology; Department of Environment; General Services Department; Miners Colfax Medical Center; Office of African American Affairs; Public Education Department; State Treasurer’s Office; and Workers Compensation Administration

From:

Dylan K. Lange, Director

Subject:

State Personnel Office Labor Relations Oversight and Authority

The State Personnel Office (SPO) has been selected by the Governor as the union contract administrator for Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) between the State of New Mexico and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the Communication Workers of America (CWA) to ensure proper guidance, training and oversight.

Effective immediately, all New Mexico state agencies employing bargaining unit employees are required to adhere to all SPO Labor Relations Division (LRD) directives regarding the handling of labor relations matters, including but not limited to grievances, prohibited practice complaints (PPCs), information requests and bargaining. This is to ensure consistency and efficiency in handling all labor relations matters.

Immediately upon receipt, please forward all grievances, PPCs, and information requests to the SPO LRD via email Labor.Relations@spo.nm.gov. Because SPO is not the Employer, Page 2 of 2 SPO Labor Relations Oversight Authority as defined by the CBAs, it is not a party to grievances, PPCs and information requests, and will not be responding on behalf of the State Agency Employer. Instead, agencies will continue to respond to grievances by following the negotiated grievance process set forth in the CBA and respond to PPC’s and information requests in consultation with agency legal counsel. However, consultation with SPO is required for all responses to ensure agencies are in compliance with the CBA and the Public Employee Bargaining Act (PEBA).

Also, effective immediately, agencies are required to complete the bi-weekly labor log issued by SPO LRD and include all supporting documents. Finally, agencies are required to email all agendas and meeting minutes for agency-union committee meetings mandated by the CBA to the SPO LRD Labor.Relations@spo.nm.gov within 5 working days following the meeting.