OPEA Discusses Benefit Allowance with Rep. Peterson

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OPEA Discusses Benefit Allowance with Rep. Peterson

OPEA had the opportunity to sit down Thursday and discuss HB 3108 with Rep. Ron Peterson. The legislation, as it is written, would lower the benefit allowance for state employees.

"Rep. Peterson made it a priority to meet with OPEA before he went back to his district," said OPEA Deputy Director Scott Barger. "He mentioned that he had received many phone calls and emails from concerned state employees."

Attending the meeting were Barger, OPEA Executive Director Sterling Zearley, and Research and Policy Director Trish Frazier. OPEA prepared spreadsheets with the impact of HB 3108 as it is currently drafted and possible changes that could be made.

Currently, almost all state employees purchase benefits that allow them to keep some of their benefit allowance as income. With paychecks so far below the market, the additional benefit allowance helps state employees make ends meet.

"It is, also, important to remember that the current benefit allowance is based on high option premiums," said Frazier. "EBC is putting out a new RFP this year on the HMOs. If their premiums go down, state employees could lose money."

Another important factor to remember about state employee insurance is that the increases have not been funded since FY 2002. This has caused state agencies to absorb over $170 million in increased costs.

"Legislators cannot force this cost on to the agencies any longer," said Zearley. "The unfunded benefit allowance cost is one reason that vacancies are increasing across state government, causing a staffing crisis."

Rep. Peterson told OPEA that he would be willing to look at different options on the benefit allowance and he did not want state employees to lose money.

"I am just looking at ways to maintain this program for state employees," said Peterson. "Under the current formula the entire program is in jeopardy."

"If the bill passes committee next week, the title will be off, and it will have significant changes as it goes through the process," Barger said.

"OPEA is committed to ensuring that if there is any money lost from the benefit allowance, it will be returned to state employees as pay," said Zearley. "In addition, we have been working with both parties in both the House and Senate on a pay raise for state employees."

"We appreciate Rep. Peterson taking time to talk to us about this important issue and look forward to working with him as the session continues to find a solution to state employee compensation," concluded Zearley.

OPEA members should continue to watch this as this situation continues to develop.

"This is a great example of why state employees need to be unified," said Zearley. "As money become tighter and tighter, all the organization like the teachers, corporations, local and county government to name a few, will all be ready to rob Peter. Ask your co-worker if it is worth the price of membership to help state employees protect the benefit allowance and fight for a decent pay raise?"

Posted on Friday, February 15, 2008 by Bud Elder

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63 comments (Add your own)

1. JT wrote:: I am glad Opea met with him to stop this mess. I cannot afford a pay cut. Our budget is tight as it is. Keep up the good work and keep us informed. No cuts!
February 15, 2008 @ 4:51 PM
2. EL wrote:: No, I don't want my benefit allowance cut. I don't want to get it back as a taxed pay raise. That is ridiculous & it is not good enough. We need the benefit allowance plus an annual cost of living adjustment plus a pay raise. There is no point to have a union & back down on this!
February 15, 2008 @ 7:49 PM
3. Phil wrote:: I would like to express my appreciation to OPEA for meeting with Representative Peterson to advocate for all state employees to prevent our Health Benefit Package from being cut. I have found myself in a serious financial crunch this year due to below market wages and increased fuel costs, along with rapid inflation, eroding my purchasing power. I think I express the sentiments of majority of State Employees who experience constant erosion of purchasing power. I learned today that my monthly fees to OPEA have not been deducted from my payroll. This has happened twice within the past year without my knowledge. I take my membership in OPEA very seriously because it enables us to speak with one voice. Surely this is a human error and I haved contacted OPEA to reinstate my membership. I urge all state employees to join OPEA and help us fight for a decent standard of living. Thank you again OPEA for all your efforts on behalf of thousands of excellent state employees who give their best to serve our great state.
February 15, 2008 @ 8:40 PM
4. Andy wrote:: I would just like to challenge those of you who either belong to OPEA or who take the time to keep up with this vital information that OPEA puts out to tell at least 5 of your co-workers what is going on with the payraise and the benefit cut proposal. I was talking to some fellow employees yesterday who had no idea that HB 3108 even existed, one employe stated that his neigbor of many years was a State Representative and that he would be visiting with him that night. Tell your co-workers to get involved, I called my State Senator last night and he commented that I was the first person from my facility to even voice a concern, this is unacceptable.
February 16, 2008 @ 7:41 AM
5. clint wrote:: I dont want to seem like I have something against the teachers of this state. but I find it strange that I have to lose money from my benefit allowance and no pay raise, while the teachers to food out of my kids mouth, and I still have to pay for Every little thing at my kids public school ( I.E landscaping, reams of paper etc). But its good that the teachers are making it though. I wonder what would happen if all the Co's of Doc would suddenly get sick, with the national gaurd in Iraq hmmmmmmm
February 16, 2008 @ 12:16 PM
6. Marta wrote:: I wonder what the author of this bill thought would happen if it goes through. Did it not occur to him that even more state employees might decide to leave state employement to find better paying jobs with better benefits? One of the lures that has been used to attract potential employees was that of great benefits. I believe that if this bill is passed, there will be such a great exodus of employees that our state will be virtuley crippled. As a health department employee, we have already lost two positions that will not be refilled any time soon. Although I love working with my clients, and helping the public, I do not believe that I can continue to work for the state any longer if I lose money from my paycheck.

I am just stunned that our loyalty has been taken for granted. If I were given the opportunity to speak with the governor, I would like to ask him why? Why is he doing this to us? Have we offended his office in some manner? And to think I used to give him high praise. I voted for him, and I'm not even a democrat. He is giving me reason to wish that now, I'd voted for his rival.
February 16, 2008 @ 6:33 PM
7. laura wrote:: I think it is said that so many DHS employees do not see the importance of joining OPEA. I think it is even more sad that officials don't fight more aggressively for us too. I am also glad that teachers have been receiving pay raises, but what about us? What about the people that make home visits and go into these homes without weapons to guard us against potential harm? Would about the people that are on call, and still unable to do things with their family during certain weekends? Would about the people that are certifying medical and food benefits, and are now making less than our clients? It is embarrasing to hear about how DHS employees are talked about. We have clients that say they would never work for an agency that expects you to have a college degree, and then pay you as if you only have a G.E.D. Our own clients can not respect us because they think we are stupid. They think we are stupid that we do such hard jobs for little wages. Some of us could justify some of it because we did have such great benefits, and now they are wanting to take that too. The average teacher starts out at the very lowest at $31,700 yearly. This does not include the raise they are up to get. This also does not include the fact that they work so many hours less than we do! The beginning Family Support Worker makes about $26,000 yearly. WOW, so many of DHS employees are beginning to rethink our career choice. Why shouldn't we? We don't even start out making $13.00 an hour with a four year degree. That is sad. I hope that the elected officials really think hard about what they are doing, and give us thought. The Department of Human Services, Department of Transportation, Juvenile Affairs, we have been passed up way too many times for raises.
February 17, 2008 @ 3:51 PM
8. concerned wrote:: It is extremely important that we all join OPEA so we can have a collective voice, and that OPEA can have the money to pay people to spend their time at the capital keeping up with legislation. It is also just as important that we all are register to vote. We can have a collective voice through OPEA, but if we do not have the ability to remove those representatives that don't listen to us, they will represent those that do have the ability to vote them out. That is how the teachers always get what the ask for.
February 18, 2008 @ 8:37 AM
9. Sara wrote:: "I am just looking at ways to maintain this program for state employees," said Peterson. "Under the current formula the entire program is in jeopardy."

I would like for Rep. Peterson to explain this comment. How is the entire program in jeopardy.
February 18, 2008 @ 8:55 AM
10. wrote:: If Ron Peterson cuts back on the current formula or program, the entire state will be in jeapardy! Oklahoma state workers will quit and find other jobs. They will not stand for cuts in benefits or wages. People work for the state because they expect their life and health insurance premiums to be paid. They expect wages and benefits to be current with today's cost of living standards. They expect to retire at a decent age and be covered financially.
February 18, 2008 @ 11:02 AM
11. Lack of Morale wrote:: Talk about causing a lack of morale! It is downright sad that state employees are being treated with such little respect! I agree, people need to get out there and vote! They need to join OPEA and stand up as a whole. Many people are saying they will join if they see any new raises come our way, or if they see that OPEA can really keep us from losing our benefit allowance. I am a member and I am glad to be one, but I can see some people's perspective. They just don't think OPEA does us any good. I do believe it does, but it should be counting for much more than it currently is. Some of that is state employees fault, people want become a member and they won't vote. I am currenlty at a crossroad in my career. I am currenlty looking for something else, as I do not really believe that state employees will ever be valued enough to justify these jobs, especially if our benefit allowance is taken. That is the only great thing we have had going for us lately!
February 18, 2008 @ 1:21 PM
12. Brandon wrote:: Rep. Peterson's proposal seems like a counter to our push for a pay raise for state employees. It is absolutely ridiculous that the legislature will not pay state employees a wage that is at least equal to average market salaries. I say that if we end up losing money (one way or another), its time for us to get tough. I for one would be willing to strike - and I know I'm not alone. I know it's against the current law for state employees to strike, but the legislature needs to understand how quickly things will fall apart if state employees stop working. Legal or not, a work stoppage needs to be on the table. I, and others like me, are willing to face the consequences to stand up for what we rightfully deserve.

Kudos to OPEA for fighting for us! They're the only ones looking out for us, and they need our support!
February 18, 2008 @ 7:10 PM
13. Ross wrote:: The legislature also loves to give raises to state employees and then not give agencys money to fully fund them, leaving them out there to find thier own money to pay for them, unlike the teachers that are fully funded by any raise they get. Then low and behold comes the RIFS at some point for us state employees to sweat out and worry about.Folks, if the legislature is not going to fully fund it, then I say forget about it, its not worth the stress of a possible RIF later on because agencys are left to pick up the bill from the short sighted legislature we have. Be careful what you wish for, you just may get it, and it not be all that it looks like.Food for thought.Its happened before.
Ross
February 18, 2008 @ 10:29 PM
14. Mel wrote:: I find it interesting that some state employees actually received pay raises last year yet we never heard about it - they are called directors and upper level management.
Those who make, on average, $20,000 more a year than the mid-level state employee received a 6% pay raise. Some agency directors received 3 pay raises last year.
Instead of asking for another 5% raise across the board why don't you forfeit monies designated to upper level management and directors and use that towards a pay raise for just lower-level and mid-level employees who are living paycheck to paycheck and need it most?

I can also tell you why the average state employee is 46 and the turnover rate is increasingly high. The average 46 year old is an upper-level employee or manager, is most likely not technologically qualified to leave for the private industry, and does not have the debt that younger employees start with so their pay is sufficient. Young employees have debts to pay - mainly student loans for the education that is required for employment. There was talk last year about the state helping employees with their tuition costs and student loan debt. Come to find out, lower level employees were rejected because of lack of experience in the state. So in order to receive this hypathetical help for student loans to pay tuition (that is the most expensive it has ever been and is rising every year), you had to work at least 3 years full time for a state agency. So again that benefits the upper level employees.

Why is the state constantly helping the people that don't need help? The rich get richer.

If you want a successful generation of state employees to follow I suggest the government stops taking away all the things that could potentially be enticing. The pay is not great, the work can be dangerous (as an inspector), and now the un-taxed benefit allowance is being taken away.
Employees, like myself, have already started looking at the private industry because it just isn't worth staying and working for someone that doens't work for you.
February 19, 2008 @ 1:52 PM
15. wrote:: Folks, I know that the economy is tough. Soybeans, wheat, petroleum, and platinum have hit all-time highs in the past week. Those state employees who happen to earn royalties off oil wells or to run wheat farms on the side likely will benefit greatly if prices do not drop and the weather cooperates. For the other 99% of us, soaring prices eat away at our quality of life; commodities prices--for grain, oil, meat, fuel, rubber, metal, fiber, and more--increased 31.7% since this week last year according to The Economist. And those prices appear to accelerate with each passing month, especially given lower interest rates (from the Federal Reserve printing more money and weakening the dollar), an accelerating federal debt, and wasteful food-to-fuel diversions.

But life in the public sector traditionally grants distinct benefits: incomparable job security and unusually good health benefits. Those who choose to work for the State for decades also can get a modest pension after retirement. Even if a compensatory pay increase somehow accompanies it, this bill begins to erode the health benefits, especially of those State employees near the bottom of the pay scale. A clause increasing state contributions for spouses and children from 75% to 100% might counteract the erosive effects and make the bill acceptable. (And I'm a single guy, so I wouldn't benefit directly.)

Employment in the private sector isn't much better, especially with the economy souring outside commodities-producing enterprises (mostly farmers, oil companies, and granaries in Oklahoma). Health-care benefits progressively deteriorate with each passing year, and with basic costs soaring, fewer employers can afford to insure the health of employees and their families. Neither party in Washington can advance any respectable likely long-term solutions.

So I encourage you all to slash spending as best you can while still keeping your families reasonably well fed, somewhat warm, and decently clothed. Consider Dave Ramsey's advice: eschew debt, save money for emergencies, invest what you can, and prosper. I'm considering moving as close to work as financially reasonable to reduce commuting costs, trading driving a car or public transportation for simply walking or cycling and starting a backyard garden as a hedge against high food prices.

Global-warming taxes probably soon will come, drastically increasing energy costs, intentionally to decrease availability and penetration of electricity and liquid fuels.

Good luck y'all, and good night. Think positively: you'll still have your jobs next year, even if they pay less because of the antics of this representative, taxes increase, and prices soar. Although better prepared than most, I don't like that combination any more than you.
February 19, 2008 @ 9:25 PM
16. Christina wrote:: So, basically the public is going to hear: "State employees get a $225 per month pay raise ($2700 per year)." However, what they are not going to hear is that we are also getting a $259 per month (for those of us with dependents) pay CUT. Really, most of us will be losing money in the end. Seems very "cut-throat" and manipulative to me. Pretty typical political decision, I guess. The above senario is only IF they approve the raise. I guess we could get the pay cut and no pay raise with the way things are going.
February 20, 2008 @ 9:14 AM
17. Jim wrote:: Mr. Peterson is making political sounds like he cares about us, but the numbers are coming up showing that he really wants a feather in his cap for reducing State expenses through 1) taking money out of the "cafeteria" accounts, thereby reducing our paychecks, and 2) Sliding away from the flat $2,700 raise which the Gov has quashed to a watered-down 5%. Mr. Peterson appears to be wearing his "wolf-in'sheep's-clothing" costume and does not really have the best interests of Oklahoma State employees in mind. Time will tell...
February 20, 2008 @ 10:01 AM
18. AH wrote:: I cannot afford a cut, what so ever. I am already considering moving to Texas, where I have been garenteed a position with a substantial pay increase and great benefits. Also no personal income tax and no grocery tax, and the average cost of living is not much more than the area I am currently in. The houses I have been looking at are comparable in price to here, and only the property taxes are substantially higher...however I will make that back in one paycheck. If this cut goes through, I am outta here!
February 20, 2008 @ 1:20 PM
19. Carolyn wrote:: Disturbed, I attended a meeting today with Mr. Barger. He was very professional and highly informative about this issue as well as others. I thank him and all the other OPEA staff members who are working with us to help. I am also concerned about this bill because I have my 3 kids on the state insurance and could not stand the cut, but I also believe that OPEA is working hard on not only this issue but a pay raise, as well as defending state agencies budgets. I saw the article in the paper today where the Governor is asking to cut state agency budgets to balance the budget? So, it seems that all sides are against state employees. I for one am proud of my OPEA membership and would encourage all other state employees to join with us instead of complaining.
February 20, 2008 @ 7:34 PM
20. ???? wrote:: Carolyn, I'm sure you didn't mean to sound as rude & condescending as you did. I think we SHOULD complain when there is so much to be lost. We are very fortunate to have this site so we can talk with one another & voice the concerns & worries so many of us have.
February 20, 2008 @ 9:06 PM
21. Almost fed up wrote:: I am with #18 post. I am a native Oklahoman, and Oklahoma will always be home, however,you have to go where the money and jobs are. If Oklahoma would do like Texas on taxes, there would be a payraise right there! I have always rooted for the OU sooners against the longhorns but this way of poverty living in Oklahoma is getting real tiresome. I can not get half way through the month without being overdrawn on my checking account. Thank God for overdraft protection! If Oklahoma public employees do not get treated right this year, I say forget the grapes of wrath and remember the Alamo!
February 21, 2008 @ 12:07 AM
22. State Employee wrote:: We are all aware of how funding is a nation wide problem. However, the sad truth is that one of the main things that keep state employees hanging on is that they get benefits paid for their family. We are in a highly stressed environment on a day to day basis. We are overworked and underpaid. You have to have a 4 year degree for most of the state agency positions, however you do not get paid enough to compensate what you are paying out of pocket for your education. The bottom line is that if you do not manage your agency's workload, as well as compensate them for their hard work and dedication, then it leads to turnover and hostile work environments. You have to give in order to receive.
February 21, 2008 @ 9:24 AM
23. Jeff wrote:: I've been saying this for a long time, THEY DO NOT CARE FOR THE WELL BEINGS OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES. They always use the State Employees to balance the budget with cuts in there pay or benefits along with the agencies cuts.

I've been telling everyone to find work in another state where it is BETTER and they care for there State Employees. I as well found a State Job in Texas that pays a whole lot more and the benefits are better for my wife and 3 kids. The home I'm looking at is just like the one I'm in now just a little bigger and nicer.

Don't wait to long before you finally realize you don't have any benefits left for them to take away. They have even been talking about taking away our longivity pay (and that hasn't increased in pay in a long time) but they have been talking about not giving it to us anymore. They won't lower the retirement from 90 back to 80 because the teachers got mad that they wasn't included in it so that was turned down a year or 2 ago it was going to pass until they stepped in. Now our Health Insurance premiums just keep going up and up in cost for every member of my family and now they (Peterson) is talking about taking away what we get to pay for our dependents health premiums.
Soon all state employees will be losing there homes and going bankrupt. Run while you can to another State for better benefits and pay!!! Again, They would love to do away with the State Employees don't let there sweet talk full you. They have been saying for a long time there is way to many State Workers to get a raise. The young people run to another state and the old retire while you can before your health kills you. I know everyone in our department as soon as they retire they don't even last a year in retirement before they pass away.

You will see our health insurance benefit allowance get cut so that we can't afford to pay for our spouse and kids and we won't get no pay raise because they keep saying there is no money which they say that every year, that is why we haven't gotten a raise in probably 5 years and only 2 maybe 3 in 10 years.

I'm tired of keeping faith of my State Legislatures to help the State Employees which they won't so I'm also out of here, I just turned in my noticed last week that I'm going to Texas.
February 21, 2008 @ 9:55 AM
24. 20 + years and still working wrote:: I am concerned with the state of things within DHS; I have seen very few pay raises in the last few years while my friends in the private sector see more pay and often more benefits. I have family that are teachers that see on going pay raises and work less out of the year than I do. While I think that teachers are important, are they more important than the people of Oklahoma that I serve 12 months a year? I think not! Everyone should challenge their legislature to consider: what DHS employees do day in and day out, what DHS jobs are statutorily mandated and on call, why a teaching position is considered for increased compensation more than DHS employees who are often on the job well after five p.m. If they don't know, here is your chance to educate them! Tell them that the people of Oklahoma and you are too important to loose a pay raise again and take a cut in pay due to loosing your benefit allowance.
February 21, 2008 @ 10:19 AM
25. 18 years and maybe still working. wrote:: I work at the State Capitol Complex as a computer programmer and we have to do on call duty 24hrs 7 days a week and there is a lot of the time I get a phone call 2 or 3 O'Clock in the morning and I have to get out of bed to fix a program so that job can run so that the "People of Oklahoma" can get there benefits like there unemployment checks.
There is a lot of times I may be out to my kids school functions or family gatherings and then I get a phone call to come into work to fix a program so that the people of Oklahoma can continue to get ther benefits without any delay. While I'm pretty much doing this for free!!
Without getting any kind of pay raises in a long time I'm pretty much gone as well to the private sector which pays computer programmers a lot of money and better benefits.

When I go to the Doctor office or Dentist office and tell them I'm a state worker they fill sorry for me or my kids and want to hand us free things because they know state employees and there families are struggly and can't afford it.

I just got approved to work for 3 times as much as I was working for the State and the benefits is the same but less on the health premiums. I will also get a huge christmas bonus! I will also get a longevity check which is higher in pay then what we have.

Sorry but I've given the State long enough and I'm tired of my family having it rough when the Governor and everyone else at the State Capitol don't care about the families of the State Employees. If we did get an raise which I doubt we will get hard somewhere else since we got one and it won't be like we got a raise. It is always like that we get a raise but something goes up in cost to take away that pay raise in our benefits like our health.
February 21, 2008 @ 10:48 AM
26. Don Avery wrote:: I don't think a 5% raise will make any kind of a dent to help pay for my bills on top of that to lose some of my benefits. How depressing can this keep getting! Boy! The morale is so low nobody wants to come to work! Everyone is running out of annual leave or sick leave.
February 21, 2008 @ 11:01 AM
27. wrote:: I would love to see everyone go on Strike then they will see how unhappy we are and how disgusted we are with the system. This is a lot of BS that the State Employees always got to take the blunt of always the budget cuts for the State.

I guess the only way we can Strike is quite our job which it sounds like a lot of you are doing which I'm going to start looking as well. I guarantee if we post our resumes on a website for businesses to see we will be taken quickly to work for them and be shown how much they care for us and our families. A lot of us has 2 and even 4 years of college education and we are almost making minimum wage and minimum wage is going up this year and next year. State Employees Pay raises "NONE" actually we are going backwards with a pay cut!
February 21, 2008 @ 11:12 AM
28. George Varghese wrote:: I agree with the 'Disturbed about this'. The bottom-line question is: What is the fate of this bill and what OPEA did to kill it? If this bill still goes through the committees and to the final stage of passing, OPEA should think about compiling another bill increasing the benefits and pay and work toward its passage. If this bill passes, it will show the ineffectiveness of OPEA!!
February 21, 2008 @ 11:17 AM
29. Mary McClurry wrote:: I think Peterson put in this HB 3108 so that we won't talk about getting a raise. It is there to side track us from asking to get one instead to worry about getting a pay cut for our Health Premiums for our families.

It sounds like it is better to be single and with out kids to work for the State!

The State of Oklahoma is no place to work to raise a family with this HB 3108 and not getting a pay raise. It is better to be single to work for the State!
February 21, 2008 @ 11:20 AM
30. 22 years of service wrote:: So far I havn't seen OPEA do anything for the State Employees to get better benefits or even Pay Raises. Has anyone seen there Benefits improve the last couple of years? or Even there pay go up to help cover the cost of living?

Our Retirement is still at 90! Our Health Insurance premiums keeps going up that all you can afford is the low option for your family and now HB 3108 will take money away to pay for our family health insurance.

Our longevity allowance hasn't gone up in a long time! None of our benefits has improved in a long time especially a PAY. It seems all OPEA is doing is fighting to keep them (legislatures) from taking them away instead of improving them.
February 21, 2008 @ 11:31 AM
31. EL wrote:: I don't see how people with kids can work for DHS. You can't count on the hours to pick them up or even see them! It seems to be a very family unfriendly organization anyway & now they don't want to pay for the kids to have insurance. There are so few positions to get promoted to & that seems to be the only way to get any increase in salary. I don't want a benefit cut & I would like an increase in the pay I make now.
February 21, 2008 @ 11:36 AM
32. DOC worker wrote:: Gov Henry has vetoed the first two budget legislations across his desk, and has compromised on a $7.1 Billion package that will include $1000 per year for teachers pay increases, $20 million to start specialized drug and mental health courts, and $10 million to launch a Bio-energy research project. This is on Statline.org. Nothing is said about Oklahoma state public employees pay raises or benefits. Get ready folks, we are going to get a big fat -0.
February 21, 2008 @ 12:45 PM
33. ???? wrote:: DHS has a pending federal lawsuit that is gearing up to be a federal takeover of the agency like they had at DOC a number of years ago. One of the only things that is going to prevent this is a major outlay of cash by the state to DHS to hire more social workers & change practices. I wonder of the legislature is ignoring this. I wouldn't think they would ignore a looming crisis as large as this. Yet it appears they going la-la-la like nothing is happening.
February 21, 2008 @ 1:35 PM
34. wrote:: AGAIN, THE GOVERNOR IS FOR THE TEACHERS TO GET A PAY RAISE SINCE HIS WIFE IS A TEACHER!!! WHAT IS THAT 6 YEARS IN A ROW FOR THE TEACHERS TO GET A PAY RAISE.

STATE EMPLOYEES IN THOSE 6 YEARS "NOTHING" 0 DOLLARS TO THE STATE WORKER!!! I BET WE ARE NOT EVEN MENTION FOR A PAY RAISE! BUT OF COURSE THE TEACHERS WILL GET ONE IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW LOW OF MONEY IS OUT THERE TO GIVE OUT, THE TEACHERS WILL FOR SURE GET THERES. THE $1,000.00 A YEAR TO THE TEACHERS IS COMING FROM OUR PAY CHECK TO FUND IT FOR HB 3108 PAY CUT TO THE STATE EMPLOYEES.

I WONDER HOW MAD EVERYONE WILL GET FOR OUR MARCH 11 RALLY AT THE STATE CAPITOL BECAUSE I'M MAD AND DISGUSTED AT THE WHOLE THING. IT IS EMBARASSING TO SAY YOU WORK FOR THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA WHEN YOU GET TREATED LIKE THIS!!
February 21, 2008 @ 1:55 PM
35. Bobby wrote:: I wish the Federal Government can step in on the way the Governor and the State Legislators on how badly the State Employees is being done wrong to.

WE ARE BEING IGNORED YEARS AFTER YEARS AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE!
February 21, 2008 @ 2:00 PM
36. Jay wrote:: Like comment 14 said our managers and directors got pay raises last year at our agency too. Some of them 2 or 3 pay raises. Now they make $80-90,000+ per year while we make $30,000 to support our entire families. How do they get heard when we're all fighting so hard with no voice? Oh that's right - corruption and money.

Also why are teachers receiving pay raises again when they only work 8 months out of the year? They have pretty darn good salaries for not having to work every week like the rest of us. I'd rather give them pay raises when Oklahoma's education system rises above 45th in the nation; until then they should be taking the cuts. They should be worrying about their benefits and salaries and that would be motivation to improve curriculum so that Oklahoma students can compete with the other states'.
February 21, 2008 @ 3:25 PM
37. Michelle wrote:: I just found this and can you believe this they fill sorry for the Teachers "NOT"!
Does this mean parents can stop buying school supplies that the teachers are saying they are.

House Committee Approves Teacher Tax Credit Bill

A measure providing a tax break for teachers who purchase school supplies for their classrooms passed today out of the House Revenue and Taxation Subcommittee. House Bill 2919, by Rep. John Trebilcock, would provide a tax credit up to $500 annually for teachers for the purchase of classroom materials. The tax credit would cover the cost of materials, equipment,or supplies used in a classroom of a public school if the cost was "not refunded or reimbursed from any other source."
February 21, 2008 @ 3:53 PM
38. Anthony wrote:: Just some information to share on how often and how much. Since OPEA inception in 1975 these are the pay raises we have gotten.

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.

I don't even remember getting the 5 percent in 2006 or noticed it in my pay check because 5% is not that much especially if you make $30,000 an year. Wow 3 pay raises or I could say cost of living raise in 8 years since 2000, actually it will be 9 years to have 3 pay raises.

Since 1990 we have been getting a raise every 2 years except between 2000 to 2004 so 2008 we should be getting a raise but I very doubt we will. Also, If they only give us a 5% raise every 2 years then that is only a 2.5 percent raise. Bread Crumbs to me!
February 21, 2008 @ 4:26 PM
39. Samatha wrote:: Wow 8 pay raises/cost of living in 18 to 19 years of service. Not that Great! The $2,700.00 would be the Largest pay increase in State Employees history if we got it. Do you really think we will get that? I really hope! But I quick having hope a long time ago. We would probably go 4 years before getting another so that would be like getting 2.5 a year.
February 21, 2008 @ 4:39 PM
40. Kathy wrote:: Why is it so difficult for state employees to have a decent salary and benefit package? Why is it so easy for teachers to get bonuses and pay raises? Do we not do a service for the same people? The PEOPLE OF OKLAHOMA? The only difference in the service provided is that teachers come in contact with the children of the State of Oklahoma; whereas, most state employees come in contact with the FAMILIES of the State of Oklahoma - and not just the low income, at risk families either; however, the majority of the families that state employees help are low income at risk families. Why is the child more important than the family as a whole? Why is the job of helping a family to better themselves not important in the eyes of the state legislature and governor? Obviously the educators today are doing no better than the educators of 20 years ago or we would not have the continually high numbers of illiterate children. Of course, I would love a job that gave me three months off (technically with all the breaks and holidays it’s four months), who wouldn’t? But working for DHS does not permit me this luxury, not only are we under paid but we are severely understaffed so if we did have three or four months off we would have to work those months too just to keep up.
February 21, 2008 @ 4:44 PM
41. ??? wrote:: I don't understand how one day at the Capital is supposed to take care of all these problems. There is severe understaffing in DHS. The attitude of the "upper level" staff is terrible and rude. They act like you don't know anything even if you have a master's degree & decent thought processes & they don't. I think maybe the state employees have had an attitude they didn't deserve much & that is part of the problem now. What could be done to deal get better treatment, pay, and benefits?
February 21, 2008 @ 4:56 PM
42. Bill D. wrote:: Man, I can understand anger over the treatment we receive as state employees, I have 34 years. One thing I know, if it were not for OPEA there would be no longevity, dependent health insurance of any kind, no sooner save program, and many other issues that i have been involved with over the past 20 years. They were involved in a special pay line for my agency, DHS, and I did well in addition to these other raises. They stopped many privitization efforts at NORC and with prisons. And, I know that the DOC has done well! I have had my disagreements with Pat Hall and others but I am proud of OPEA and am thankful it is still fighting for us. So, please, don't take your frustration out on them. Take it out on the legislature or your office mates that are not helping!
February 22, 2008 @ 8:26 AM
43. Gregory Allen wrote:: I hope OPEA will work on getting the 90 returned back to 80 for retirement. So that we can get the heck out of our state jobs. We should be able to retire in our 50's not our 60's or 70's and then end up being dead the year after we retire and not enjoy our retirement from all the stress and low pay we got from the State.

There is a lot of unhappy stressful employees everywhere in the State Workforce because of our benefits / very low pay. I guarantee if we have gotten some pay raises to help with our struggling to get by with our families, everyone would be in a better mood.

I remember reading somewhere that an employee from OPM commented that in 2010 that 40% of the State Workforce will be retiring in the State. I agree on that because I asked a lot of people in our building at the State Capitol Complex and 2010 is a very big year for people to leave for retirement and I guarantee if the 90 is reduced back to 80 there would be even more gone probably above 50 or 55%. When the State Legislators see the State cannot fill none of these jobs due to our benefits & our "very low pay" that was lost do to retirement.

There is hardly no more State Employees in there 20's or even 30's that work for the State. This will be a very big probably coming up soon because of our PAY.
February 22, 2008 @ 9:59 AM
44. Ted wrote:: I've been working for the State for 23 years and I remember OPEA was trying to get us up there with the other states in our region in pay. I remember we might have moved up some to 46th in our pay compared to the other states from being 49th (I believe). Now since we haven't gotten a big raise in a long time or even a raise each year. We should have dropped and probably 50th now, dead last in pay according to the other states who work for there States.
February 22, 2008 @ 10:38 AM
45. Shelly wrote:: How many of you have taken action to enforce that we get a raise this year? Do not just contact your state representatives- but all of them. While you do not have the power to elect representatives in other districts- they are still representing you in this session and need to hear from you. I want to receive a minimum $2700 across the board raise in July of 2008. I want them to implement annual cost of living increases (not raises) beginning in January 2009 of a minimum of 5% and I want them to leave my benefit allowance alone. If we all flood their offices with phone calls, e-mails and letters- they will get the point that we are not going to tolerate being over-looked again. Do not give them the opportunity to forget about us.
February 22, 2008 @ 11:54 AM
46. Tim wrote:: I think we are dead last in pay again compared to the other State Employees in the United States. We did make some progress but I think we did a 180 and went back to being last 50th in pay I was told from someone @ OPM.

Once we make some kind of progress I think the legislators think that is to good for the State Employees and they quite doing anything for us.
February 22, 2008 @ 1:02 PM
47. Rick wrote:: I agree with several of you who believe that state employees need to go on strike, even though by law we can't. I think everyone has sick leave or annual leave someone needs to pick a week and everyone just call in sick. just watch how the public reacts when they dont get their services.
February 22, 2008 @ 1:02 PM
48. Luther B. wrote:: This is what has been done for the Active State Employee from OPEA since 1975.

*(1982) Longevity Pay was established and the State started paying for Dental Insurance for employees.

*(1985) The State began paying for disability insurance for employees.

*(1989) A family leave policy was implemented for State Employees before a similar federal bill was passed and the SoonerSave was established.

*(1996) Annual Leave was increased for employees with 10 years or more of service and a severance package was established for RIFed State Employees.

*(1997) The SoonerSave match was established $25.00 and the Mileage reimbursement was raised to the IRS rate.

*(1999) The 50% dependent insurance subsidy was established and the 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% to 75%.

*(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 5 years of service and to 18 days for employees with 5 to 10 years of service.

*(2002) The privatization process was strenthened to ensure employee rights.

*(2003) Employee rights we 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.

*(2007)Minimum pay for state employees was established at the federal poverty rate for a family of 3. Reimbursement for education loans was established for State Employees.

I wish the 90 go back to 80 for retirement and maybe improve our amount of annual and sick leave we get each month. I wish they would improve the SoonerSave from $25 to $50 that the State puts in. Also, Increase the Longevity Pay that was established in 1982. I've been with the State for nearly 30 years and I remember when OPEA used to throw in so many incentatives to give to the State Employees including a pay raise that the legislators had to give us something.

I haven't seen something that actually helped me in any kind of benefit in a long time and also not getting any kind of a pay raise. We are not getting any kind of improvement in our Benefits or Pay.
February 22, 2008 @ 1:46 PM
49. jo wrote:: Well after researching some upcoming bills, Do you know, not only do the teachers want a pay raise, the teachers that are retired are asking for a 4% pay raise in retirement in HB 2510.
So, State employees while your saying NO to HB 3108, 3312, 1414 add on there 2510.
Oh and by they way, I also found that our legislators get paid around $38,400 per year for 4 months of service.That comes to 149 legislators at 38,400 = $5,721,600 that WE PAY THEM. This is in addition to their regular income, whatever that may be. This doesn't include what the lobbyist give them like $500 worth of OU or OSU season tickets. Or that our tax dollars pay for the gas that goes in the state cars they drive.
I could go on and on but why, you get the picture.
GAS HAS DOUBLED, GROCERIES ARE UP, WE HAVE ALL EXCEEDED OUR BUDGETS AND WE AS STATE EMPLOYEES DESERVE A RAISE AND STOP MESSING WITH OUR BENEFITS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 22, 2008 @ 2:24 PM
50. wrote:: Everyone get a copy of HB 3108 from your Representative. I just got one in the mail today. This thing is nothing more than a way for Ron Peterson to take money from us. OPEA is not being aggressive enough and is trying to tell us they (OPEA) are negotiating with Ron Peterson. Do not believe this. HB 3108 will take money from state workers. We can not afford a cut in our benefits or pay.
February 22, 2008 @ 6:06 PM
51. Chuck wrote:: #51 you are really mixed up. Read the article from our board member Tricia parker.
February 22, 2008 @ 6:36 PM
52. wrote:: The bottom line is that HB3108 as it is written will take $1000 to $3000 per year from our pay checks. This is the money you use to pay for your insurance benefits. I don't know about you, but I don't like negotiating with a pick pocket! There are many other ways the state can save money besides going after our benefits. I would rather they just keep their 5% pay raise and keep their hands off our insurance benefits. No to HB 3108 and just give the 5% to the teachers. They are going to end up getting it anyway.
February 25, 2008 @ 1:17 AM
53. Jason wrote:: Identifying that most state employees receive an excess benefit allowance on their paychecks, and then using that to further erode benefit allowances is an ignorant, erroneous way to determine a benefit allowance. It is the equivalent of using the outcome and effects of a calculation as a part OF the calculation.
So when every state employee has to "choose" or really been forced to take a cheaper benefit program due to the bill's PAY CUT effect, then the next year will these misguided rep's use the new plan demographics (they influenced) to further erode benefit allowances? I always assumed someone in a state rep position would be astute enough to not make logic and mathematical blunders of this sort.
February 25, 2008 @ 10:04 AM
54. Leona wrote:: OPEA - don't act so giddy that Rep. Peterson would deign to come down from his ivory tower to speak with you. This guy is in the insurance business 8 to 9 months of the year when he isn't getting paid to legislate. He probably annualizes his salary so he is getting at least $3,000 per month - by the way, teachers do the same. I'd like some of that action myself. I find it hard to believe that Rep. Peterson can't add and/or subtract! By the way, how long do our legislators have to be a rep. or sen. to get retirement? What about their benefits? I have worked for the state 20 years and look forward to retiring - let's see, after paying federal and state income taxes I MIGHT have enough to pay for my insurance! Our idiotic legislature can't figure out how to fund DOC and continue to ignore that mess. I guess the governor and "the good ol' boys" will come up with the money by reducing state employees benefits. What they don't get is that the benefits are one of the few perqs state employees have. I am an OPEA member - for over 19 years. I am discouraged when all I can hear from this group is that they were THRILLED to meet with this snake oil salesman. If he is indeed in the insurance business I consider it a conflict of interest to even suggest that he is involved in lowering our insurance benefit package. OPEA - remember that $15.00 per month is starting to look like a tidy sum!
February 26, 2008 @ 2:12 PM
55. Rob Harvey wrote:: Everyone needs to remember to vote Ron Peterson out of office so that he won't hurt us with his ideas to cut our benefits. Remember when its time to vote look for his name and vote for the other person. We need him out of office and anyone else who is against state employees.

*Vote Ron Peterson Out Of Office!!
February 26, 2008 @ 3:55 PM
56. 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.
February 27, 2008 @ 10:10 AM
57. Highly Concerned wrote:: And, so this is the proposed change to the Peterson Bill. Please let your representives know that this is not acceptable either.

I choose the High Option plan because I have children with severe health issues and I need the price difference for their care as well as my own care. This is a benefit I was given at the time of hire and I don't want my benefit changed! If you want to do that simply do that for those coming into State employment and grandfather the rest of us in on the current plan! Do not take away ANY benefits or the one pay raise we have had in two years. Pay raises are far and few between. We are not even projected to get a raise that would be the equivilent to the increase in the cost of living!

Proposed change to the bill:
The insurance change would take place at the next option period. The Peterson bill won't pass as it is, though. The worst we believe could happen is that they would freeze the benefit allowance and let the premiums catch up over a few years. However, they wouldn't do that without a pay increase. There are other things that could happen to the benefit allowance. If the EBC eliminates the high-option HMOs that only six percent of the people are choosing, the benefit allowance would fall significantly, worse than the Peterson bill. Anyway, we talk about this every day.
February 27, 2008 @ 12:04 PM
58. State Employee wrote:: How can the Legislature even do this? When I applied for my position, the salary and benefits package did not come with a disclaimer of "in case of budget shortfall, we won't give you your benefits" ! How is it even legal that the legislature can change my compensation. And, didn't THEY just give themselves a big ol' insurance boost because THEY wanted the same compensation as the rest of "us" state employees?
February 27, 2008 @ 2:30 PM
59. Terry wrote:: How it is constitutional for our elected representatives in State and Federal government to vote themselves pay raises and benefits. Do they not work for we the people? Should we the people not decide on their pay raises and benefits? And you know, when it comes to foreign aid, how is it they decide to give our tax dollars away to other countries. Billions and billions of tax payer dollars. These are the dollars that come from our income to run our government. Why should some country get our money and threaten to kill us? Then what is really hillarious is that they give us an economic stimulus package of $600 per taxpayer and we are suppose to say wow, our leaders are really looking out for us! That is just part of our money that they have wasted on other countries, and were never willing to spend at home where it belonged from the beginning. I think that our elected representatives should be there to legislate the laws of the land, however not to rule the power of the land. The power should ultimitely be left up to "we the people". We should decide how our money should be spent. If it is being wasted, or given away at the alarming rates of modern day, then it is our duty as citizens to take back the reigns of power.
February 28, 2008 @ 12:57 AM
60. huh wrote:: I would love to see the poititicians live on what we do. I'd trade the in a minute! They could all give back to the state what they want to take from us and the state could afford the benefits plus raises! They don't work all year plus get their trips paid for out of our pockets. Enough is enough. I am Native Americian, don't need the insurance but they don't give you the option of not taking it, so why do they have the option of taking my allowance?
February 28, 2008 @ 10:28 AM
61. ??? wrote:: I bet the politicians don't deal with the horrible working conditions state employees deal with. Ugliness inside the office & danger in the streets! Not to mention cutting the insurance you need so badly because of the stress & the danger. Wait-I can't afford the gasoline to go to all these nice places!
February 28, 2008 @ 11:16 AM
62. Kim Arnold wrote:: This is what always happens if and when we (State workers) get a raise. Either our insurance goes up or insurance allowance is taken to still again reduce our pay or income! The State workers that are loyal and remain with the agency should be compensated some way, but never seem to be. I love my work helping people, because I have a servents heart, but there comes a time when enough is enough and we must stand and say that is it!!!! State workers want and deserve a raise. Bottom line...
February 29, 2008 @ 3:11 PM
63. ka a wrote:: It is such a shame that I work for the State Agency that is the Department of HUMAN Services that helps men, women, children, elderly and the disabled to receive insurance, food, etc. But the same agency can't seem to even help take care of their committed, loyal and hard working employees. This is a crying shame!!!!! There are many that work for State agencies that do not need our State insurance because of belonging to a Nation or Tribe, but are told they have to take it. Take right there would be one savings they should look into. I am proud to work for DHS because I know the good I assist in helping others that are less fortunate, but sad when I need to apply for the food stamps to just get by, but because I have contributed to a 401K or 457 fund, my resources would make me ineligible to help me feed my family.
February 29, 2008 @ 3:22 PM

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