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Elected Officials Call for State Employee Pay Raise

State Rep. Brian Renegar (D-Blanco) and State Sen. Kenneth Corn (D-Poteau) have both publicly endorsed state employee pay raises for the upcoming legislative session.

 

Renegar, whose press release can be found here, is supporting OPEA's platform of a $2,700 pay raise, after state employees were left out last year.

 

"Everybody was shocked when they didn't get a pay raise last year," he said.  "I thought I would stand up for them."

 

Sen. Corn said that he will sponsor SB 1379 that will mandate the $2,700 pay raise.

 

"From those who care for the elderly, the veterans and children to those who ensure the safety of our highways and bridges to those keep peace in our correctional facilities; state employees perform essential services around the clock for Oklahomans," he said.  "Every segment of our society is touched by these dedicated workers, who have had to stand by these last five years while teachers received historic pay raises."

 

Senator Corn's press release can be found here.

 

Posted on Tue, January 29, 2008 by Bud Elder

23 comments (Add your own)

1. JoAnn wrote:
What is being done for retired state empoyees? We too are struggling with our every day living costs. I am in hopes that retired state employees will also be considered in this years budget. We have not received a COLA increase in several years.

Tue, January 29, 2008 @ 10:06 PM

2. Mary wrote:
God Bless you both. Thank you!!!

Wed, January 30, 2008 @ 10:03 AM

3. wrote:
This is a good start, but I think it still will allow our State employees to lag behind the private sector. I would also like to see a review of which State employees would receive pay raises. Is it all inclusive, or just employees/departments that haven't received pay raises as regularly as others?

Wed, January 30, 2008 @ 10:55 AM

4. Shereata Ellis wrote:
I'm glad to see that our legislators are agreeing with the State workers needing a raise. I work closely with the nurse's and other duties. I can say that we truly do put in a lot of work to get our elderly people the help they need. We are dedicated to the time,patience, effort that we put in to get the job done.We need to hear more legislators speak up on their response in getting the State employee a raise. It takes all of us working together to accomplish this goal!

Wed, January 30, 2008 @ 11:19 AM

5. Andy wrote:
That will get the gas tank filled, I guess we can eat next year.

Wed, January 30, 2008 @ 11:54 AM

6. Darryl wrote:
Contact all of the Senators and all of the Representative to help us get a Pay Raise so that we can survive and not struggle so hard pay check to pay check. Hopefully they will not break up the $2,700 but from past experience they usually give us half of the amount and then give us the other half 6 months later when we should be getting another raise. So, write to them that we want all of the $2,700 right now.

Wed, January 30, 2008 @ 1:59 PM

7. wrote:
Darryl nailed it. Let's give a little now, and a little later, but we'll tell everyone through the media that " STATE EMPLOYEES RECEIVED A $2,700.00 PAY INCREASE! " Regular Joe citizen, like myself thinks, DANG, we gave state employees a raise! Senators and Representatives look good in the public's eyes, but State employees still end up on the short end of the stick. Still below market value in my opinion. You folks keep up the good work. Wait, I got an idea, maybe I can run against Lance next election! I might even have a chance. Then we could apply good old common sense instead of political correctness.

Wed, January 30, 2008 @ 2:17 PM

8. H. Hawkins wrote:
Thank goodness! Finally, representatives who fight for state workers!

Wed, January 30, 2008 @ 3:02 PM

9. Alicia Hoffman wrote:
I couldn't have said it better myself!! AMEN!!

Wed, January 30, 2008 @ 4:28 PM

10. Ron wrote:
I will Beleive it when I see it!!
Talk is cheep, actions speak louder than words!!

Wed, January 30, 2008 @ 5:07 PM

11. wrote:
In 2007, Governor Henry assigned a task force to investigate how far behind state employees pay was when compared to private industry pay. This task force was supposed to give him their findings at the end of 2007. Why hasn't their info hit the newsstand yet? I know teachers work hard for their money, but so do state employees, and I'm tired of teachers getting more and more money for about 6 months worth of work (178 days), when state employees work a whole year for their money. Many state employees drive from within the metro area to their jobs, but some drive in from counties surrounding the metro area, and some even drive in from as far away as Tulsa daily to work at the state. Plus, you never see the teachers' pay raises broken up into 2 amounts implemented months apart, like some of the state employees' pay raises have been. I know we are more than probably 10%+ behind our counterparts in private industry.

But on the other hand, I'm glad that someone is finally standing up for us, and saying we need more money. I'd like to know how many times since 2000, that the state employees have gotten pay raises, compared to how many times the teachers have gotten money. Channel 9 reported the other day that teachers have gotten money for 5 years in a row. Teachers never want to have merit-based pay raises. State employees cannot get any type of merit-based pay, unless they are unclassified and receive "exceeds standards" on their PMP's. Classified employees have to rely on state legislature for their pay raises or apply for higher paying positions in order to get more money. Some agencies bring their new employees in at the mid-point of pay ranges, no matter what their experience is or how many years experience they have.

I hope the legislature will act favorably and quickly for us state employees! THANK YOU, OPEA for all that you do currently and in the past for us! Keep up the good work!

Thu, January 31, 2008 @ 2:14 PM

12. Aliceann Stawicki wrote:
Between the years 2000 to 2007 the US has seen a 20.4% cost of living increase as measured by the Consumer Price Index. In that same period, non education related employees in the State of Oklahoma have seen a 3% increase.

While we are in full appreciation of the jobs done by Oklahoma Educators, employees of the state would respectfully ask that the legislators review the current pay scale for State employees and make increases as they are overdue and deserved.

Thu, January 31, 2008 @ 3:25 PM

13. Joe wrote:
Number 11, you are so right I bet we get the increase $1250.00 in January of 2009 and another in July of 2009 if we are lucky.
I hate to be pessimistic but we as State Employees have been beat down to a point where if we can find a way to quit and get out, we are. It just doesn’t pay enough to have to take your work home or stay late at the office to keep ahead of the deadlines. The quest the State Government has to create smaller Government by reducing the number of State employees is causing tremendous stress on everyone. The work is just as heavy as it’s always been now we have no choice but take it home. I feel we have been disrespected and abused in the past.

I'll believe it when I see it and if we do get a raise, I bet you a dollar to a hole in a donut it wont $2700.00 it will be less I'm sure.

Fri, February 1, 2008 @ 11:37 AM

14. wrote:
Lets face it folks we are nothing but the politicians whipping boy. We will always get the short end of the stick and yes Joe your right, I’m looking for a job as we post on this blog to get the hell out of here because, it's not worth it. It use to mean something to be a State employee not any more the benefits are not that great with insurance going up every year with less of a benefit allowance, the retirement system is in big trouble and you cant get a raise to save your life. Why should I stay?

Fri, February 1, 2008 @ 4:20 PM

15. EL wrote:
On my job reviews, they say you have to develop some kind of new program to get an exceeds standards. That would be hard to do when you are working constantly just to keep up because they say the department is fully staffed but the social workers have to work like mad day & night & the cases are always behind. I think this may be some kind of stall tactic to keep people from sounding like they are doing a real good job. When you set impossible standards, that is the idea-they are impossible. The morale is low because the problem of too much work not enough pay just never seems to stop!

Sat, February 2, 2008 @ 8:06 PM

16. tina wrote:
#15, that too is a concern of mine, job reviews are standard - I've decided on the next one that I will add comments and not just sign off as my supervisor looks on.
If other will add comments instead of allowing themselves to be 'whipped' then maybe some changes will happen.

Sat, February 2, 2008 @ 8:41 PM

17. PJ wrote:
I am tired of receiving a pittance of a pay raise only to have it disappear by a raise in our insurance rates every year. I cannot remember the last time I received a raise and got to keep any of it. The vultures are always circling to take it from us. We deserve a decent raise that won't get gobbled up by nsurance rates going up!!! This is the most common complaint I hear from my fellow state employees. I'm also tired of hearing statistics that state OK is at the high end for problems like teenage pregnancies or at the low end for salaries as compared to other states. This is STILL America, correct? We sure could use a break.

Come on, legislators, approve a little for those of us who got you elected. We did our part...now, do yours.

Mon, February 4, 2008 @ 2:13 PM

18. JR wrote:
Yes, our state is maligned often about being at the bottom of the list in good stuff and top of the list in bad stuff. Highly-paid legislators who concentrate on filling their own pockets instead of taking care of a potentially great state... Oklahoma probably has far too many state employees due to 'good buddy' practices many years ago, which have been perpetuated. But now, our state employees run a complex business infrastructure with inadequate resources, inadequate personnel and inadequate compensation. While there is no simple solution, paying our state employees for their efforts up front would be a good start on giving our state an incentive to repair its problems, like ignoring state retirees' COLA's for years, ignoring the dignity of our state employees and ignoring the integrity of our state.

Mon, February 4, 2008 @ 2:28 PM

19. Jason Freeland wrote:
I think OPEA should make Rep. Renegar and Corn the legislators of the year for standing up for state employees. The democratic party used to be for the working folks but seem to be to busy kissing the teachers butts to pay any attention to us anymore. Its nice to see some of hte Old democrates still remember who to fight for.

Wed, February 6, 2008 @ 8:48 PM

20. Carol wrote:
Well this task force that Governor used got our State social workers and agents got a pay raise, but the clerical for the most part got any where from $45.00 to 55.00 and that was all they got, that is what that was worth. Our elected Officials have always done this and this will be the way they always do. They will not do anything for the clerical or any one. I tell people all the time, don't bother trying to work for the State as there is no money in working for them.

Tue, February 12, 2008 @ 4:17 PM

21. Marcia wrote:
Hey PJ #17 how right you are. An email is going around like wildfire House Bill 3108 is going to take away our benefit allowance and leave us paying more for health insurance, they say it could end up costing us as much as $259 for self and spouse/children, out of pocket. So $2,700 a year, equals $225 a month, still won't cover it for some. There's just no way to win

Wed, February 13, 2008 @ 2:30 PM

22. wrote:
Personally I'm ready to head for a certain neighboring state where my classification starts several hundred dollars a month more than I make after being with the department for 17 years...

Wed, February 20, 2008 @ 8:14 AM

23. Calling Out all State Employees wrote:
EVERYONE AIM TO BE AT THE MARCH 11 LOBBY RALLY BETWEEN 11:00 TO 12:30 THAT IS WHEN THE MEDIA WILL BE THERE. YOU WANT THE STATE EMPLOYEES TO GIVE A STRONG SUPPORT FOR OUR CAUSE TO LET THE LEGISLATURES AND THE GOVERNOR AND THE PEOPLE AT HOME WE ARE TIRED OF NOT GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE AND THAT IS A PAY RAISE AND TO NOT TOUCH OUR BENEFITS.

I LIKE THE IDEA SOMEONE GAVE WE SHOULD POST ON BULLETINS BOARDS HOW WE ARE BEING IGNORED HOW BAD OUR PAY IS TO THE PRIVATE INDUSTRY THAT I BELIEVE WE ARE NOW LAST IN THE UNITED STATES IN STATE WORKERS PAY. LET THEM KNOW THAT SOON THERE WON'T BE ANY STATE WORKERS TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF OKLAHOMA BECAUSE WE WILL BE GONE TO THE PRIVATE INDUSTRY WITH OUR EXPERIENCE ON THE JOB.

IF ANYTHING IMPROVE OUR BENEFITS THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE IN A WHILE.

*RETURN OUR 90 BACK TO 80 THAT IT USED TO BE.
*INCREASE THE STATE CONTRIBUTION OF $25 TO OUR SOONER SAVE. MOST PRIVATE INDUSTRY HAS THE 401K WHICH MATCH WHAT YOU PUT IN BUT THE STATE ONLY PUTS IN $25.
*INCREASE OUR LONGEVITY THAT HASN'T BEEN IMPROVED SINCE IT STARTED.
*GIVE US AN EXTRA 1 OR 2 HRS A MONTH TOWARD OUR SICK OR ANNUAL.
*TRY TO LOWER OUR HEALTH INSURANCE COST WHICH IS OUTRAGESLY HIGH COMPARED TO THE PRIVATE INDUSTRY.
*IMPROVE OUR RETIREMENT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO RETIRE SOONER BEFORE WE ARE DEAD.

Wed, February 27, 2008 @ 10:20 AM

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