About Us

KOSE strives to create safe, employee-centered workplaces that enable every member to feel supported, fulfilled, accomplished, and equipped to provide high-quality services to the citizens of Kansas.

The Kansas Organization of State Employees (KOSE) is a union for executive branch state employees, and the largest union of state employees in Kansas. All non-supervisory, non-confidential employees in the executive branch of Kansas state government (exclusive of higher education) are eligible to join KOSE. KOSE is local 300 - dually affiliated with both AFT and AFSCME.

KOSE’s mission is to make real improvements on issues that matter to state employees, such as compensation, pay equity, healthcare and retirement security, workplace safety, career development, and having a voice on the job. KOSE’s priorities are driven by the ideas and input of KOSE members.

KOSE was established in March 2007, when the boards of the Kansas Association of Public Employees/AFT (KAPE) and Kansas AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) voted overwhelmingly to merge their executive branch state employee members into KOSE, creating one strong, united organization.

KOSE has the backing of two parent unions, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). AFT and AFSCME are the two largest unions in the AFL-CIO and together represent more than 2.8 million union members nationwide. With the support of these two strong unions, KOSE has the resources and expertise to be a powerful advocate for state employees.

The units that are currently represented by KOSE include:

*Maintenance, Trades and Technical  

*Administrative Support

*Health and Human Care Non-professional

*Social Services, Counseling and Teachers

*Protective Services

*Law Enforcement Investigators