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OPEA RESPONDS TO LATEST REVENUE FIGURES

OPEA RESPONDS TO LATEST REVENUE FIGURES

Private Contractors Should Help Shoulder the Burden

 

 

OKLAHOMA CITY (September 15, 2009) – The Oklahoma Public Employees Association is calling for cuts to private contractors, and urging state leaders to reconvene for a special session.

 

“The state spends 1.4 billion dollars a year in contracts to private providers,” said Sterling Zearley, OPEA Executive Director.  “There is no reason state agencies should be forced to shoulder this burden alone.  If agencies and state employees are hurting, these private contractors also need to cut back on their expenditures.”

 

Zearley’s comments came in light of new revenue figures released today by the State Treasurer’s office, which show a continuing decline.

 

“OPEA is asking the Governor and legislative leaders to call a special session to address these cuts, and either use part of the Rainy Day Fund or additional stimulus dollars to ease this strain.

 

“This is a crucial time in Oklahoma’s history,” Zearley said.  “State agencies and employees are overburdened trying to help customers in need.  The state cannot continue to make cuts without it beginning to affect all Oklahomans.”

 

 

Oklahoma Public Employees Association (www.opea.org) is a non-profit labor organization that has represented the interests of state employees at the Capitol in Oklahoma since 1975.

 

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Posted on Tue, September 15, 2009 by Mark Beutler

4 comments (Add your own)

1. mike wrote:
Gov. Henery needs to wake up and take a pro active part in easing the problems facing the workers of Oklahoma. The rainy day fund needs to be tapped!!!!!!! Hello!!!!!!!!!! It is raining!!!!!!! What else is it for???? Elected officials can not continue to balance the budget on the backs of state employees. We have not had a pay increase in over 4 years and the cost of living has gone up over 12% and now they want us to take furlough days!!!!!!!! What is the next step,,, you want us to work for free!!!! I have an idea,,, let's furlough the legislators for a few days and see how they like it!!!!! Tap the rainy day fund and quit paying private contractors all this money, especially when state employees can do the same job, better and for less money!!!!!!! Join OPEA, they are the only ones fighting for state employees.

Wed, September 16, 2009 @ 9:40 AM

2. Thomas Kalayilparampil wrote:
I agree with Mike. State workers are powerless and they have lost their ability to respond due to the heavy workload and the huge financial burden on them due to budget cuts and health insurance cost increases. The elected officials are enjoying their automatic pay raises while the state employees are agonized over the worst fiancial situation in our State's history. Now is the time for all state workers to unite under OPEA and fight to end this crisis, before it get worse. Please join us in this fight!!

Wed, September 16, 2009 @ 10:36 AM

3. FattCatt wrote:
What the hell…what are they waiting for? It seems as if our state leaders are wanting us to fail and all state services be compromised. Are they planning on putting state services in the toilet…is this what they really want?
If this continues there will be no choice but to RIF us…forget the furloughs!

Not until the media puts the spot light on the state revenue problems, there is no problem for our state leaders to have to deal with.

LOBBY DAY 2010

>*x*<

Wed, September 16, 2009 @ 11:26 AM

4. Lee wrote:
If the state legislators have not noticed, It "IS" raining outside and has been for a long period of time! If they are going to consider tapping the rainy day fund (Which is maxed out for those who do not keep up!) it needs to be accessed to give well deserved pay raises for starving career state employees. Our elected Oklahoma legislators enjoy ranking among the top compensated state leaders in the country while the Oklahoma state employee workforce continues to anchor one of the lowest paid state workforces in the nation. I have dedicated 13 years of my life to working for this great state. I like my job even though year after year I am asked to do this job with less agency funding, fewer support staff / co-workers, and more job stressors (i.e. fear of furloughs, R.I.F.'s, etc.). Seniority in state jobs means very little other than a little extra longevity pay. A new college graduate can enter the state workforce and in 2-3 years be earning within a few hundred dollars per month as a 15 year seasoned employee. Thing is, other than O.P.E.A., "NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE"! They are doing the best that they can with what they have to work with! Only a small percentage of the 30,000 state employees are even members of O.P.E.A. but these non-members will be the first to stand up and criticize. Come On....join O.P.E.A., pay your monthly dues, and be as active as you can possibly be in this process! If you are not a member.....become one.....if you do not become a member.....I do NOT want to hear you whining about anything! You may need to be seeking employment elsewhere anyway because of the increasing talk of furloughs and R.I.F.'s. Hew hires....you will be the first to go so you might want to become a part of the O.P.E.A. team.

Of course, it could just be me "AGAIN" maniacly scratching my bald head and just thinking, mmmmmmmm! Every thing is going to be alright! NOT!

Thu, September 17, 2009 @ 9:22 AM

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