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Merit Protection Commission Arrest Raises Concerns

Thursday, June 12, 2008 - Mark Beutler

 

An incident regarding the deputy director of the Merit Protection Commission raises concerns about the stability of the agency and its responsiveness to state employee needs, according to officials with the Oklahoma Public Employees Association.
 
Austin Gilley, who has served in various capacities with the agency, was arrested this week in the office of the Oklahoma Attorney General for refusing to leave the premises.  The incident occurred after Gilley was placed on administrative leave by director Susan Bussey, who claimed Gilley had sent “inflammatory emails.”  As a result of the director’s action, Gilley was ordered to produce backup tapes of the agency’s files.  Gilley then apparently went to give the tapes to the AG’s office but refused to divulge appropriate passwords.  That action led to his arrest.
 
“Whatever kind of drama is occurring right now at Merit Protection cannot be beneficial for state employees in general and, in particular, our members,” said OPEA Executive Director Sterling Zearley.  “We have to wonder if the business of the people is being accomplished.”
 
Oklahoma’s Merit Protection Commission offers final dispute resolutions for state employees.  Several former and current OPEA members serve on the commission board.
 
“This is truly a breaking news story,” Zearley said.  “I’m sure there will be more information revealed as the days progress.  OPEA will stay on top of the matter until we feel the agency is back on track.”  

9 comments (Add your own)

1. Jim Roberts wrote:
Well, it's politics as usual in Oklahoma! I would wonder if Mr. Gilley is an unclassified employee, and subject to immediate dismissal at the whim of the governor.
Zapping these bad actors is a quick way of cleaning out the proverbial Aegean stables.
I would hope that some serious thought beyond a person's political stance goes in to selecting an unclassified employee.
For most of the rest of us, we had to register with the OPM, pass tests, pass interviews and work our way up the ladder, being held to ever tighter rules on behaviour every year. Why is Mr. Gilley not similarly scrutinized?

June 12, 2008 @ 10:36 AM

2. Mary wrote:
Knowing Mr. Gilley's background after working with him a few years, he was scrutinized, went through the Carl Albert Intern Program at OPM, very intelligent, knows Human Resources, etc. He was selected competitively at MPC. There has been a problem with MPC since Ms. Bussey was appointed, her employees have been very unhappy. I don't believe this a Mr. Gilley problem, it goes much deeper than that. As a former State employee, leaving approx 17 years vested with the State and returning to the Feds, the State has many "bad actors" but Austin is not one of those, maybe young, naive a little, and wanting to see change in the management. The managers are protected more often than not, they are unclassified, let them go and let people in that want to work and do it correctly.

June 13, 2008 @ 12:36 PM

3. wrote:
Merit Protection is an oxey moron. I can't think of one person they have protected (unless it would be the senior staff of various state agencies). Things have been reported to them and its like it went into a black hole. You want to see how effective they are, check out who wins when grievances are brought before them. They are just like everybody else, protecting their phony-baloney jobs!

June 13, 2008 @ 3:36 PM

4. In need wrote:
What's the point in having a Merit Protection - if they only protect management and senior staff. I know from personal experience that this agency protects only management and senior staff regardless if the employee is innocent and has witnesses to prove management mis-treatment of lower level employees. Management get's away with anything. This agency is not for the employees they are only for senior staff and management regardless if they are in the wrong.

June 25, 2008 @ 1:26 PM

5. Austin's plea wrote:
http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/1388932/a_plea_for_ok_powers_to_stop_abusing_authority.swf

June 30, 2008 @ 4:40 PM

6. Austin Gilley wrote:
http://www.miaminewsrecord.com/articles/2008/07/02/news/news2.txt

July 2, 2008 @ 10:06 PM

7. A wrote:
I didn't have any luck with merit protection either. Doesn't mangement always protect management, no matter what?

I finally resigned and am now starving. It is much easier than knowing you are being screwed over and over.

I personally was very disillusioned by the way the State operates. I thought it would be a good and fair place to work. Boy was I wrong.

July 6, 2008 @ 11:35 AM

8. Dr Cecil D Bowman, SScD,DBA,CPS,CPI wrote:
Before Retirement from the State of Oklahoma, I deal with the Merit Protection Commission on a number of differ occurances. I found them to be one sided, and in a hearing they seem to always take the side of Agnecy Management. Also they in their investigation due not question anyone who is the Management. It seem that they always protect the Agnecy and not the Employee, who is filing the request for legal action. I believe that this is a Agency who is not needed in state government execpt to protect State Management.

July 7, 2008 @ 10:45 AM

9. wrote:
I would encourage all who read this to go to metacafe.com or youtube and do a search on GRDA. Mr. Gilley has created 4 videos that detail the events leading up to his arrest. He alleges wrongdoing and corruption in state government and gives names and evidence. Get informed by watching all 4 videos then decide for yourself.

If you decide you believe Mr. Gilley, share his story with all your friends.

July 15, 2008 @ 2:56 PM

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