Citing a total lack of consideration by legislative leaders toward state employees performing essential services to Oklahoma taxpayers, Oklahoma Public Employees Executive Director Sterling Zearley today took issue with the recently agreed upon general appropriations bill for FY ’09.
“For the sixth time in the past eight years, governmental leaders in Oklahoma have chosen to ignore state employees and their desperate need for a pay raise, as HB 2776 contains a $7.1 billion stand alone budget with no salary increases,” Zearley said. “With gasoline prices skyrocketing and food costs up some 17 percent, our association felt throughout the session that lawmakers and the governor would find a way to help these public servants as they struggle to make ends meet. It seems now that our confidence has been misplaced.”
Zearley adds that his association is tired of canned responses and excuses from lawmakers.
“We are tired of hearing ‘there’s no money,’” he said. “Even before ill advised tax cuts reduced services to our citizens; it has been a continuous struggle to bring these employees even close to their market pay value.”
One answer to the dilemma might be found by tapping the state’s Rainy Day Fund, Zearley adds.
“Plenty of money that can be used for a pay raise rests in the state’s Rainy Day Fund and this association has pointedly asked the Governor to use his authority to bring relief to our state workers that would in no way harm the budget.
Zearley said that his association is receiving a message that is loud and clear from its membership.
“Our members are ready to take direct action to shed light on this deplorable situation,” he said. “From what we hear on a daily basis, our members will not be denied.”
Posted on
Thursday, April 24, 2008
by Bud Elder