OPEA

25 comments (Add your own)

1. Khan wrote:

I knew they would try to pull something else. Thanks OPEA for keeping on top of it.

Fri, April 15, 2011 @ 12:28 PM

2. Inspector Gadget wrote:

I assume this includes teachers too. Does it?

Fri, April 15, 2011 @ 2:47 PM

3. Jim wrote:

So are they going to force us to take insurence we can't afford...if this bill goes through I should not be forced in taking what the state is not willing to pay for. If they have no interest in providing insurence then I should not be required to take it!

Fri, April 15, 2011 @ 4:12 PM

4. Trish Frazier wrote:

Answer to the question about teachers: No this does not include teachers. They have a different benefit structure that is not as good as the state employee benefit allowance. They have better pay. State employees have better health insurance. As you probably know, state employees have a good benefit allowance. If this passes, they will take away the only good thing about state employee total compensation.

Sat, April 16, 2011 @ 9:13 AM

5. Harvey Craig wrote:

Teachers get no assistance for their dependant coverage. Also their pay isn't all that either. Depends on the school district as far as pay is. The state has a minumum and the districts can add to it if they can afford it. No....I am no a teacher but a DOC employee who hets furloughed once a month in order to fund increased inmates and ACA insspections. My wife is a teacher that works about 60-70 hours a week for her meager pay.

Sun, April 17, 2011 @ 4:31 PM

6. Questions wrote:

What else would you call it. Forcing is discrimination of our rights.Global is the only choice I had to pick. All the others were too expensive. Even the "STATE PLAN" was too expensive. When you keep making cuts, you can't expect employee's to have a choice but to take the cheapest plan.The insurance committee needs to come down off there high horse and get realistic with the economy situation. It's either forcing or picketing!!!!!

Mon, April 18, 2011 @ 10:03 AM

7. Kris wrote:

You can download a copy of the bill here: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/WebApplication2/WebForm1.aspx

Click on the link for "House Floor" at the top of the page.

What I find even more reprehensible than cutting back the allowance, is the rule to put the benefit monies into an account to be used only for medical services. Let's face it, the benefits allowance may be "intended" only to pay for benefit services, but most of us use the leftover balance to supplement our incomes, because we NEED it since our salaries are so small.

Mon, April 18, 2011 @ 12:14 PM

8. JimP wrote:

It has long been the position of HealthChoice to push for legislation designed to 'encourage' state employees to choose their high-premimum, high-deductible plan. If you search the history of this bill (SB305 and SB190) you will see it was originally created in 2001! Yes, this idea has been around for a long time. And the summaries of this bill state very clearly the goal is to raise enrollment in HealthChoice.

The stunning hypocrisy of all of this is that the same Republican Leaders who stand on principle and don't want anything ($54million) at all associated w/a Government-run, Single-payer system are twisting our arms financially to sign up for HealthChoice. (?) You may like HC or you may not, but I don't appreciate serving this state for over 15 years and then being strong-armed into something I cannot afford and do not want. CALL Your Legislator and Ask Them WHY?

If this measure passes, I believe it will force the other insurance companies to withdraw their offers to the state and HealthChoice will be the only one left. It has happened before, you know...

Mon, April 18, 2011 @ 12:30 PM

9. claire wrote:

How much more can state employees take? Most of us haven't seen a raise in years yet prices for gasoline, utilities, groceries, and more have steadily increased. Now they want to cut the benefit allowance? That is basically a pay cut for each of us. When will the squeeze end? I have to have a second job to make it - how many others have to do the same? What can we do to make them stop squeezing us to death? I don't see any legislators getting a pay cut!

Tue, April 19, 2011 @ 7:52 AM

10. Mike Rogers wrote:

And something that some state workers may not know, there are several employees in the state that don't have a choice,,, Health Choice is the only thing offered. We all must come together and stand firm against this kind of politics. They say that it would be better for state employees in the long run??? How is taking money out of an employees pay check better??? Better for who!!!! Enough is Enough!!!!

Tue, April 19, 2011 @ 11:07 AM

11. Long Time State Employee wrote:

We should be picketing the Capitol. Is there anything in the works on this issue, OPEA? We should gather everyone that works with the State and let the People of the State of Oklahoma know about this. This threatens the citizens most at risk. I don't think everyone knows about this issue. If they cut benefit allowance the question I would ask is, "How many people will find another job?" You get what you pay for, for the State that could be alot of vacant jobs. There's a point where even Walmart is a better job.

Tue, April 19, 2011 @ 11:28 AM

12. Jim wrote:

Trish Frazier,

Can state employees rally only one time a year?

...not that it would really matter, most state employees are content with just b****ing and not taking action to stand up for themselves. Only 200 out of 30,000 employees showed up this year and I think this is a direct result of everyone's inaction...to late peeps we had our chance now its the legislators turn and there is not much we can do about it at this point. My advice to everyone...start looking for another job we are being set up to be contracted out.

Everyone not showing up for OPEA day sealed our fate.

.

Tue, April 19, 2011 @ 1:42 PM

13. Linda wrote:

@ Jim,

I am a State Employee of 14 years and our office has never been able to be shut down for the day to go and lobby. We are NOT able to go stand in OKC begging for a pay raise while there are hungry people, people needing help with utilities, daycare and medical! Unlike the Teachers where the entire school shuts down for the day and MY children sit at home by theirselves while their teachers (mind you) are out begging for a pay raise. I guess this shows which takes more priority at the school...their precious yearly pay raises selected over a day of education for the children.

Now, we the State Workers of Oklahoma rely upon OPEA to get this message out to Legislature on WHY WE ARE NOT ALL THERE ON THE FRONT LAWN LOBBYING. We do have responsibilities and are loyal to serving the citizens of Oklahoma. We rely on OPEA to FIGHT FOR US!!!!!!!!!

We have not had a raise in over 7 years, I live paycheck to paycheck with 25.00 +/- a month. The pass of this bill will have catastrophic effects on my family!

Wed, April 20, 2011 @ 9:43 AM

14. Frank wrote:

Well I just heard SB605 passed...I am so, so sick and tired of this abuse that I am ready to commit suicide...if you see on the news that a state employee killed himself I want everyone to know that our Legislators are the ones that have blood on their hands. I just can’t take it anymore it is so hard to tell my children that I can’t afford to get them nice shoes or clothes. It breaks my heart to tell them I can’t afford to get them what they want for their birthday instead I have to get them some cheap toy.

My morale is gone and I just can’t do it anymore.

Wed, April 20, 2011 @ 10:07 AM

15. Mike Rogers wrote:

To Linda,,, I do understand how you feel.. what agency do you work for, because this year the rally day was on a state holiday, so unless you are one of those that work shift or have to provide 24 hr service it would have made it easier to be there. Also, calling and sending e-mails do help. I took several letters and e-mails of those that could not make it, but Jim is right on one thing,,, we must all make an investment in our jobs and stand up for ourselves. You are right that OPEA does fight for us, but we can not fault OPEA if a battle is lost. They catch a lot of stuff and they can only do so much, at some point in time reguardless of job status, we all must stand up for what is right. OPEA does fight for us and they do an outstanding job, they are the only ones fighting for us, especially on this last issue, but they can't do it all,,, everyone come together now.

Wed, April 20, 2011 @ 10:45 AM

16. Jim wrote:

Linda,

FYI Lobby day was held on Presidents day...a holiday...there is no excuse for not being there. You just don’t get it OPEA is not our b****h! We have to stand up for ourselves not put all the responsibility on OPEA. OPEA is our watchdog to let us know about these types of bills. It’s up to us to get up and do something about it not OPEA. All you have are excuses and have proven my point...you and several others are too lazy to stand up for yourself and keep your job.

You better start looking for another job because I bet you will be one of the first to be furloughed.

Wed, April 20, 2011 @ 10:55 AM

17. state employee wrote:

I have a question, am I remembering wrong or wasn't it just a few years ago that the Legislators voted to include themselves to be included under the State insurance benenfits?

Wed, April 20, 2011 @ 1:16 PM

18. Trish Frazier wrote:

I hope all of you have seen the latest story on the website. The benefit allowance is safe! Thanks for everyone that made calls and sent e-mails.

The benefit allowance language has been removed from SB 305. The bill now only has a wellness pilot project and provides for deposits into health savings accounts to be pre-tax, if employees choose that option.

Wed, April 20, 2011 @ 1:30 PM

19. Diana Stolhand wrote:

Thank you to everyone at OPEA who kept us from taking a huge hit with our benefit allowance. You work so hard for us each and every day, and I appreciate it.

Wed, April 20, 2011 @ 1:53 PM

20. Kris wrote:

Getting back to Lobby Day... how do you find out about it? I don't think it is well-advertised enough. I did not know about it this year until I saw it covered on the news after it was all over.

Thu, April 21, 2011 @ 1:43 PM

21. Mike Rogers wrote:

To Kris< Are you a memeber??? If so the date was decided last year(2010) for this year and it was sent out to all members, it was in the advocate and I know it was talked about in every chapter meeting and places that OPEA went to prior to the rally day,,, If you are a member and are not getting the information please contact your membership rep. or regional director and it can get worked out.... we need everyone to make an investment in their jobs.... join today

Fri, April 22, 2011 @ 9:38 AM

22. Jim wrote:

Kris,

It was on this OPEA webpage. It is most the time around Feb. or March. Keep checking the site regularly.

Fri, April 22, 2011 @ 12:53 PM

23. Khan wrote:

Jim,
At this time of the writing the bill was defeated. But hang in there man. Sounds like you reached the point like many of us that we have to cut our losses and leave the state. We have options, even in this tight market. The legislature and ourselves need to realize this. And if you leave and read in the paper later on about massive turnover, you'll be glad you jumped ship.

Fri, April 22, 2011 @ 4:38 PM

24. Khan wrote:

Sorry, I meant that for Frank. Jim/Linda...good posts btw.

Fri, April 22, 2011 @ 4:39 PM

25. Mike Rogers wrote:

To Kris(21) see my comment on (15), if you are an OPEA member you would have known late last year and would have been updated up until the rally day.93862

Tue, April 26, 2011 @ 1:12 PM