OPEA congratulates member Cheri Mathews for recruiting 18 new members
to the association! Mathews is an employee at Tulsa’s DHS Advantage
office, and was successful in becoming OPEA’s top recruiter.

The Oklahoma Public Employees Association has received two letters of commendation from the Speaker of the House and the Senate President Pro Tempore. The letters stem from OPEA’s leadership in helping resolve a recent two-day budget dispute on HB 2435. The bill gives supplemental funding to the DOC and DPS to eliminate furloughs that would have taken effect later this fiscal year. If this bill would not have passed, DOC and DPS employees would have faced 10-13 furlough days from April through June.

“OPEA was involved in some rather lengthy discussions,” said Executive Director Sterling Zearley. “Ultimately we were successful in helping resolve the budget stalemate and keep our dedicated DOC and Public Safety employees on the job. Our legislators trust OPEA and listened to what we had to say, and we appreciate their swift action.”

Click the links to read the letters in their entirety.

BengethanksOPEA.pdf

GlennCoffeeThanksOPEA.pdf

OPEA’s 2010 Lobby Day started off with a bang as The Oklahoman chose to run a scathing editorial blasting the association, its executive director and state employees.

The newspaper has been embroiled in a heated battle with OPEA, demanding the birth dates of all state employees be made public. OPEA is determined to keep that information private

OKLAHOMA CITY – Under legislation approved by the Oklahoma House ofRepresentatives, the holidays would be a little jollier for stateworkers.

House Bill 3052, by state Rep. Dan Kirby, would add an extra day to the Christmas holiday for state workers.

The Oklahoman today escalated its war against state employees and their push to make your birth date a matter of public record.

"A Sterling Example of Leadership at the OPEA" is headlines in today's Oklahoman editorial page.  Make plans to rally for your rights today at 11:15 on the Capitol's south steps.

Fireworks are expected at the Capitol tomorrow morning as state employees come together for the annual “OPEA Lobby Day,” and to protest a leading state newspaper. Registration begins at 9 am in the second floor rotunda, with a rally at 11:15 on the south steps.

On Saturday, The Oklahoman launched a full-scale war against OPEA, its members and state employees by complaining to the state’s attorney general. The newspaper is pushing for the birth dates of state employees to be a matter of public record. The OPEA is adamant in keeping those records private to protect your safety. Now you are asked to join OPEA in rallying legislators, and to protest The Oklahoman.