Congratualtions New OPEA Members!

Fighting Together for Change!

The employees at the Disability Determination Division sat down with staff from the Oklahoma Public Employee Association to discuss what’s on the table legislatively for state employees this year at the state capitol.

OPEA’s Dean Balmer opened the meeting with introductions of Executive Director Sterling Zearley and new membership representative Alicia Wright.

Balmer quickly moved to the history of the association and why it’s important for all state employees to belong to their association.

“This is your association, it was founded by state employees just like you, it is governed by a board of state employees, just like you, and the strength of the association depends on your involvement,”Balmer told the crowd.  “There are 7500 state employees who are active members fighting for change for all 34,000. If all 34,000 active employees along with the 26,000 retired state employees would come together as one, we wouldn’t be fighting for pay raises every year,” said Balmer.

Sterling took the stage focusing on the legislative platform. Mr. Zearley explained that OPEA has bills that will require members to e-mail and call their local legislators for support in order for them to have success.

“You are the constituent, you have the strongest voice with your local legislator because you are the voter in their districts,” said Sterling.  “You need to be talking with them continuously about your needs.”

The association would like to thank office director Noel Tyler along with her staff

Julie Wilson, Terry Willis, Cynthia Henderson, Sammy Nye, Roberta Robertson, Charlene Wallace, Scott Miller, Andrea Emmons, Sabra Taylor, Carolyn Smith, Annette Hazelwood, Janet Rodgers, Christy Washington and retiree Donna Sinks for getting onboard with the other members at their location.

Together we all win!