Public employees from across the state will descend on OPEA’s annual Lobby Day Tuesday, March 9th at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City.
“Every year we hear from members and all state employees that it’s too difficult to make it to Lobby Day,” said OPEA President Connie Stockton. “They use every excuse imaginable…they will have to use annual leave; their work load is too heavy; it’s too long a drive to Oklahoma City.
“I don’t mean to sound harsh, but no more excuses! If you want to protect your job, if you want to provide a living for you and your family, if you want to protect your benefits and your longevity…you will do whatever it takes to be at this year’s Lobby Day. We need to SHOW UP STRONG!
“Never in OPEA’s 35-year history has one Lobby Day been more important,” Stockton said. “We are continuing to see RIFS and furloughs and VOBO’s, and I’m afraid it’s just the tip of the iceberg. If you think you’re immune to these cuts, you can think again. This budget shortfall is going to affect every one of us. We’ll either see our jobs cut and be on the unemployment line, or our co-workers will be cut and we’ll be left picking up the slack and doing their job in addition to ours.”
State employees have not seen a salary increase for years, and in fact, are facing cuts in pay thanks to furlough days being implemented across many state agencies.
“Last year we had 200 people show up for Lobby Day,” Stockton said. “If every DHS office would just send three employees that would be 200 people. If our top 10 agencies did that, we would have 2,000! If we don’t make some sacrifices, take a day of annual leave and drive to the Capitol, our legislators will continue to think they can walk all over us. This year I’m asking each and every one of you—no matter what your job is—to schedule a day now and come to Lobby Day and SHOW UP STRONG!”
The Agenda
9 a.m.
Registration opens on the second floor rotunda
9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Visit with your legislators
11 a.m.
Move to the south steps of the Capitol
(in the event of inclement weather the rally will be held inside the Capitol Rotunda)
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Show up Strong Rally
Invited Speakers:
Governor Brad Henry
Lt. Governor Jari Askins
Speaker of the House Chris Benge
House Minority Leader Danny Morgan
Co-President Pro Tempore of the Senate Glenn Coffee
Senate Minority Leader Charlie Laster
