OPEA

Salaries for state workers, while registering a modest increase, lagged behind the market, according to the 2006 Compensation Survey published by the Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management, released this past December as mandated by state statute.

"If Oklahoma is going to attract and retain top professionals for critical state government services, they must pay a competitive wage," said Oklahoma Public Employees Association Executive Director, Sterling Zearley. "At a minimum, this means paying salaries that keep pace with inflation along with trends in the private sector.” Taking a sample from 303 different job families, representing 27,310 employees or 64% of the classified employee workforce, the survey revealed that from 1999-2006, state employees were paid an average of 10.5% under the market salary for comparable jobs.

“This is the eighth straight year that the salary increases of state employees failed to keep pace with inflation, indicating a troubling decline in real wages and lost purchasing power,” Zearley said.

According to Zearley, the fallout from low salaries can be devastating.

“This report also indicates that the State of Oklahoma is wasting over $80 million dollars a year in turnover costs,” said Zearley. “Inefficiency of this type would not be tolerated in the private sector and should not be tolerated in state government. State employees deliver valuable services and by simply instituting annual cost-of-living adjustments, the state could save millions.”

OPEA’s concerns are being voiced during the week in which the Governor’s Task Force on State Employee Compensation meets for the first time. The task force, created by Executive Order at the request of OPEA, is made up of public and private sector Human Resources professionals chaired by Steven D. Hendrickson of the Boeing Company. "Providing high-quality public services is among the best and most cost-effective investments that taxpayers and governments can make," said Zearley. "These services are the foundation of our communities, making possible the safe streets, clean air and water, economic development and quality healthcare we all rely on. We are hoping that this task force will finally arrive at clear recommendations that will allow state employees to afford to serve the people of Oklahoma."