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OPEA DHS Members Say Pay Cuts Out of the Question

 

With the announcement from The Department of Human Services of possible furloughs for its workforce that will amount to an 8.8 percent cut for employees across the state, OPEA's DHS members are jumping into action.


“It is impossible for any state employee, much less a DHS employee, to take a massive cut in pay,” said OPEA Executive Director Sterling Zearley. “With salaries that are well below market and no pay raise since 2006, state employees are already struggling to put food on the table and support their families.”


The proposal is being considered to fill the budget hole for the fiscal year beginning in July. DHS offices would close one day a week and employees would work nine-hour days the remaining four days. The furlough will be suspended for six weeks, to comply with the furlough limit of 184 hours. Employees in 24-hour facilities will be excluded from the furlough depending on their position (i.e. job duties).

 

OPEA has learned DHS has been asked by legislators to look at 10 percent cuts to the agency’s appropriations for FY 2011. Cuts of this magnitude to the state's largest agency could spell disaster for accuracy rates, delivery of services and cripple reforms to the child welfare, not to mention the impact on workers and their families.

 

 

“Legislators are just beginning to write the state budget,” said Zearley. “The furloughs can be curtailed or stopped if DHS is properly funded. OPEA is fighting furloughs and RIF's in many state agencies and this is another blow to state employees. The involvement of members in DHS offices is critical to the association’s effort. Employees must engage with OPEA on this issue because the budget issue is not going away. State employees who are not members cannot hide their heads in the sand anymore.”


OPEA is calling for DHS employees to meet with local legislators in their offices immediately. “Our members must engage their local legislators,” said Zearley. “Not a moment can go by if we expect to avert a disaster in DHS.”


“People who are searching for work need the support of DHS for childcare, food stamps, and Medicaid to carry them through the tough times,” said Zearley. “DHS services lower stress on families and contribute to the local community.”


OPEA DHS members are encouraged to set up meetings with local legislators in their offices or at other locations in the community. OPEA membership representatives are available to help in the coordination. TO HELP, CALL 1800 880 6732

Posted on Thu, April 8, 2010 by Mark Beutler

14 comments (Add your own)

1. Mark wrote:
DHS Employees have not had a raise since 2006, no cost of living,no merit,no perforance,no nothing. Now the state wants Employees to take a 10% pay cut for all but six weeks next year.
The state budget must not be balanced on the backs of emploees any cuts must start in the pay of adminstors and those at the top not at the bottom

Thu, April 8, 2010 @ 10:17 AM

2. KDD wrote:
When you say we should contact our legislators, do you have a suggestion as to what we should say? We can tell them we don't want a furlough but their very first question is going to be: What do you suggest we do to stop it? Where do we cut? Schools, who get over 50% of the budget anyway? Right. That's not going to happen so what do you have to offer in the way of suggested topics when we call our legislators?

Thu, April 8, 2010 @ 11:06 AM

3. Jim Darst wrote:
The Senate is furloughing its staffers. The House of Representative is sitting on four million dollars. If the Oklahoma House won't help the Oklahoma Senate because they don't manage their money (comment heard on TV)then what chance does DHS stand in the budget process?

A question in my office is how will the furlough not effect retirement, but reduce our state or federal taxes? If the full gross is counted for retirement then wouldn't we have to pay the full amount on state and federal taxes even though we don't get the money?

Thu, April 8, 2010 @ 12:21 PM

4. Kris wrote:
I pay private pay childcare, I just called my provider and told them about the possibility of the furlough and if I could just pay for the 4 days my son will be there, just like if I was a DHS or tribal receipient, the answer I got was, "Private pay people pay a flat weekly rate-no adjustments". So I am not only looking at looking 1% of my monthly net income, but loosing an additional $20 a week because I need daycare the other 4 days. I can't win in any situation.

Thu, April 8, 2010 @ 1:26 PM

5. Tell me the truth wrote:
A few months ago when I first heard talk of furloughs at DHS, we were told that highly paid administrators would take more days, now it is an across the board 10%. Many of the frontline workers already make so little they are eligible and receive DHS benefits. This is particulary offensive when one considers the huge raises all executive staff of DHS received in the fall. The furloughs will have a minimal effect for these individuals, but will be devastating to workers. We have no leadership, we have managers who look out for their own.....

Thu, April 8, 2010 @ 1:50 PM

6. Catherine wrote:
The morale at my DHS office is so low, people are happy to get away from there one day a week. They don't care if they take a pay cut. It is just that bad. It is managers trying to look good to each other by belittling & breaking down the employees who have stayed with the agency. Now they want to cut our pay as well? Do they want to shut down parts of DHS & just have managers?

Thu, April 8, 2010 @ 6:25 PM

7. George wrote:
The proposed furlough of DHS' employees equal to 2 days a month or almost 10% cut of their paycheck. This is terrible and so hard on the employees especially, those who work in the fields and elsewhere with lower wages. The cut should be limited to the executives, managers, directors, division heads, etc who make a whole bunch of money anway. Do not steal from the beggar's plate. The other alternative is to discontinue one or two programs with high state dollar matches. Cutting from exmployees-who make very low money-is a very irresponsible and rediculous policy. The closing on Fridays seems like a good idea and it will save the state a whole bunch of money by way of savings in utilities, etc.

Fri, April 9, 2010 @ 2:55 PM

8. Bryan wrote:
I guess I am not seeing this the same way as everyone else. Obviously, my preference would be to keep my same pay. However, there is a reality that the state has $1.3 BILLION less than FY 2010. My view is that I would much rather have every Friday off and take a 8.8% cut then see myself or my co-workers be subject to a reduction in force. We all know that the low hanging fruit was cut so we didn't have to take any furlough days this year (like many other agencies did). Do we all deserve more money? Yes Is this going to be difficult financially? Yes Are there many good options? No. This may not be the best plan but it is certainly not the worst. God willing revenue will pick up and we can all get back to work!

Fri, April 9, 2010 @ 7:18 PM

9. Sallie wrote:
I am not sure if everyone realizes it or not but by cutting many departments within DHS the State will actually lose money. The Child Support Division is 65% funded/matched by the federal gov't, cut that part of the agency will only result in less money. Surely there is some accountant some where in this dept. that realizes that. I understand fairness but this does not make sense.

Fri, April 9, 2010 @ 9:48 PM

10. Concerned wrote:
None of this makes sense. When you see SORC and NORC going away - mental health services gone, guidance centers gone- OJA gone - get real folks - the whole system is broken and it is being shored up on the backs of the state employees who truly provide services to Oklahoma citizens in need. 10% pay cut, voluntary furloughs, reduction in force, the list goes on and on. Federal matching dollars don't seem to mean anything to the managers. 1.5 billon dollars cannot be made up with just a few cuts.

Sun, April 11, 2010 @ 5:10 PM

11. #### wrote:
Kris; you are right, you will never get ahead as a state employee.

Tell me the truth; i have worked in the private and the public sector, all people who get ahead are cut throat and only look out for themselves.

Catherine; that's the feel in my office, let us out of here, we can make it up mowing yards or something.

Mon, April 12, 2010 @ 8:50 AM

12. Chris Comer wrote:
Over half of my salary is federally matched dollars. There are many OKDHS employees like me that are in a similar situation. The more money they cut from my salary the more of their own budget they are going to lose. I believe that with the already low morale and the reduction of work days will have a detrimental effect on accuracy rates in numerous federally funded programs thus reducing our budget once again. Other services such as Child Welfare and APS have such demanding caseloads many are already working 10 to 15 hours over a week to stay afloat. And as the economy is getting worse the higher demand that is placed on our employees. There has to be another way to make up for the losses.

Mon, April 12, 2010 @ 10:03 AM

13. MAD wrote:
OK--I am going to get RIF and possible a chance of displacement but if you read the plan my option is miles away, a pay cut, and furlough. Yes, Kris it sucks to be a private pay b/c paying for two kids in daycare I completely understand. That is why unemployment will make me money!! How crappy is that!
I believe those that state at the resource centers will get hit again in the time to come by furloughs and possible another RIF!!

Mon, April 12, 2010 @ 10:03 AM

14. judy wrote:
why are the big shots not taking a paycut or vbo instead of the people who do the real work. I work in a 24 hour resource center and we give all our money to the Liberty Center they make more money and the state provides them with everything.
WHY?????????

Mon, April 12, 2010 @ 3:28 PM

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