OPEA’s Dean Balmer visited the DHS office in Wewoka at the request of the County Director Janis McElroy. The room quickly filled with employees eager to hear about their 2008 pay raise.
Balmer opened the meeting stating the 2008 state employee pay raise will depend on you, the employee.
“If you are ready for a serious salary increase then its time for each one of you to step up and make it happen”, said Balmer. “OPEA has been telling their members that you have to communicate with your elected officials. The legislators are elected by you; you have to hold them accountable.”
Balmer continued
“Every state legislator needs to realize that state employees matter. They are the ones that provide the services for our tax payers. They do an outstanding job and it goes unnoticed,”
Balmer went on to say that state employees continue to hear that that their 12% below the market in pay but their benefits look really good.
“Benefits don’t put gas in the car or food on the table, says Balmer, its time for the legislators to take care of our state employees so they don’t have to work second jobs just to make it through the month,” he said. “We, Oklahoma taxpayers, have state employees who are eligible to retire but don’t because they can’t afford the insurance. At the same time, we have retired state employees who have to get signature loans just to by heat for their house.”
The employees at the Wewoka DHS are also concerned about the Rule of 90 just like every other state work location.
“We need a legislative leader to step up and put the rule of 80 back as it was, said Balmer, we are 76.6 % funded at OPERS and everyone knows we are never going to shut all the state government down”.
United together the state employees have the power to change, not only their pay, but the mind set of all the legislators.
OPEA would like to thank County Director Janis McElroy for inviting us to her office. We would also like to thank the new members from the Wewoka DHS office, Robyn Lindemann, Freeda Conway, Carol Walker, Kimberly Lasater, Aaeon Willis, Claudia Chesser, Courtney Lee, Jenny O’Dell, Sylvin Rogers, Amanda Lenora, Kelly Martin,and Sonya Bradberry for getting onboard with their association to help make the difference.