OPEA

9 comments (Add your own)

1. Lets Walk Out! wrote:

Blu Flu July 1

April 22, 2008 @ 3:29 PM

2. Lets Walk Out! wrote:

Oh crap what am I thinking if State wokers are to lazy to show up at lobby day they will be to lazy to not show up for work and be a part of standing up for them selves. Oklahoma State employees have made their own bed by not being active in this process.

April 22, 2008 @ 3:38 PM

3. Grunt worker wrote:

Right, because it's laziness that keeps us from showing up at lobby day, not the 400+ caseload and knowing that missing one day puts you a week behind. Wouldn't be that at all, would it? There are ways to stand up for yourself that don't require neglecting your work to do it. Maybe you should encourage that kind of behavior instead of behavior that makes everyone's life harder.

April 23, 2008 @ 9:25 AM

4. Renee wrote:

It was funny when you said we would be too lazy not to show up for work. But the truth is state employees are working so hard, there is not always time to come to every rally. That is what OPEA is for. Also someone might get kind of beaten down by overwork & an oppressive work atmosphere & just not have the strength to do more. It doesn't mean the work is not valuable & deserving of pay raises.

April 23, 2008 @ 7:49 PM

5. FattCatt wrote:

Sorry but I have to chime in here.
Give me a break guys as long as you keep think that way that "the work will get behind" means you are falling into the Legislators trap, that’s what they want you to do.
Lobby Day was held at lunch time so everyone could attend and very few took the time from their lunch to show up…no excuse here at all. If you are to busy to stand up for yourself then you deserve what you get…nothing.
If you think it’s bad now just you wait, according to OPM by 2010 40 percent of the states workforce will be retired not to mention the ones who burn out and quit. Your work load is going to increase for sure with no raise. From the sound of it you guys probably are not even members of OPEA and just want to B**** about what they are not doing. “Well what has OPEA done for State employees?" Well here is a list and mind you this list does not include the bills that were blocked by OPEA like HB-3108 to keep our Legislators from taking advantage of us.

Since its inception in 1975, the Oklahoma Public Employees Association has worked to make life better for state employees and the
people they serve. Here are some of the Association’s accomplishments during the past three-plus decades:

1982
Longevity pay was established.
The state started paying for dental insurance for employees.



1985
The state began paying for disability insurance for
employees.



1986
The State Employee Bill of Rights was created to ensure
state employees full participation in the political process.



1987
A death benefit was established for retirees.



1988
The retirement insurance subsidy was established.



1989
A family leave policy was implemented for state
employees before a similar federal bill was passed.

The SoonerSave program was established.



1990
The Leave Sharing Program was established.



1991
Electronic deposit was established.



1992
An Alternative Dispute Resolution Program was
established to help resolve workplace grievances.

A Pension Protection Plan was created to keep state
leaders from spending retirement funds.



1996
Annual leave was increased for employees with 10 years
or more of service.

A severance package was established for RIFed state
employees.



1997
The SoonerSave match was established.

Mileage reimbursement was raised to the IRS rate.



1999
The 50-pecent dependent insurance subsidy was established.

A process was established to allow state employees to
compete for their jobs when privatization is proposed.



2000
The dependent insurance subsidy was increased from 50
percent to 75 percent.

The insurance subsidy for retirees was increased.



2001
The benefit allowance was changed to guarantee that the
subsidy would increase as the cost of insurance increases.

Annual leave was increased to 15 days for employees with
up to five years of service and to 18 days for employees
with five to 10 years of service.



2002

The privatization process was strengthened to ensure
employee rights.



2003
Employee rights were strengthened in discipline and hiring.



2005
Employees were given the right to appeal evaluations to
the Merit Protection Commission.

The Office of Personnel Management began overseeing
the process of unclassifying positions.



2006
Active and retiree insurance premiums were blended to
provide retirees with more affordable health insurance.



2007
Minimum pay for state employees was established at the
federal poverty rate for a family of three.

Reimbursement for education loans was established for
state employees.




State Employee Pay Raises:

1980 - 10 percent.
1981 - Raises based on the Hay Study.
1985 - 8 percent on the first $30,000.
1988 - 5 percent.
1989 - $400.
1990 - $1,000.
1992 - 2.5 percent.
1994 - 6 percent.
1996 - $1,200.
1998 - The higher of 4 percent or $1,250, up to $2,000.
2000 - $2,000.
2004 - $2,100.
2006 - 5 percent.

April 24, 2008 @ 12:43 PM

6. Lee08 wrote:

Well good for you FattCatt. You sound so intelligent and on top of things. Some people are working 3 hours away from the rallies. Maybe you can buy our gas money to attend the rallies or help us with per diem? There is 77 counties in this state if you forgot.

April 25, 2008 @ 12:04 PM

7. wrote:

Some employees don't take lunch at the Capitol. This is a statewide problem & many people don't live close to Oklahoma City. It don't think that not wanting to fall behind on your caseload is unreasonable. That is what someone who is trying to do a good job would think about. Being a state employee is about trying to be really good at your job. It is not about being a "slacker". OPEA has a job to do just like DOC, DHS, and all the other agency employees do. OPEA needs to support us while we are doing our jobs-not harass & blame us because we didn't have time to come to the capital.

April 25, 2008 @ 12:14 PM

8. FattCatt wrote:

Lee08,

The main issue is people who worked right here in the Capitol did not show up. It is understandable you not being there and I know there are 77 Counties. Yes I would not expect someone from Beaver County to be there.

Number 7,

If you do not get a lunch then it is worth an hour of annual time to get an extra $2700.00 in your pocket?...and you ask any union they will tell you that its a UNION all for one and one for all! You can not expect 6 people "OPEA" to tell our Congress what we want, only we can do that.

It's hopeless, you deserve what's about to come to us...nothing and none of this will matter.

You better update your resume.

>*x*<

April 27, 2008 @ 3:05 PM

9. FattCatt wrote:

P.S.
A follow up on my last statement, you better practice "Hi welcome to Wal-Mart" or "You want fries with that?" because you will be having to work extra jobs to make ends meet!

>*x*<

April 28, 2008 @ 12:23 PM

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