State employees will join teachers in possible strike

Oklahoma state employees will join teachers in an April strike if lawmakers fail to deliver on demands for increased pay and funding.

Following a Saturday morning meeting, the Oklahoma Public Employees Association board of directors voted to move forward on a work stoppage plan if more than $213 million in state employee pay raises is not approved by April 2.

Earlier this week, the Oklahoma Education Association unveiled its demands for more than $800 million in teacher pay raises and school funding increases for next fiscal year, along with state employee pay raises.

Teachers across the state plan to strike April 2 if the total funding package is not approved, said Alicia Priest, president of the Oklahoma Education Association.

State employees are prepared to join them.

"We are going to have to design different plans for different types of (state agency) work sites, and that's what we are going to be doing over the next week," said Tom Dunning, communications director for the public employees association.

David DuVall, executive director of the Oklahoma Education Association, joined the state employee board Saturday and informed them of some of the work they are already doing to prepare for a possible walkout.

In preparation for a large presence at the state Capitol next month, the education association is already looking at bringing in additional restroom facilities and setting up satellite parking and shuttle service, DuVall told the board.

Before the state employee association board voted to move forward on a work stoppage plan, members said the lack of an across the board pay raise in more than 12 years had brought employees to a breaking point.

“They aren't just angry and disappointed ... it's different this time,” said board member Mike Rogers, addressing the frustration among many state workers.

Board members said Oklahoma government employees — from prison guards to bridge inspectors, social service workers to child support specialists — are a critical part of the state, but low pay is driving many to seek second or third jobs to make ends meet.

“You still deserve to make a livable wage and we are not at that right now,” said Jess Callahan, board president emeritus. “The passion and drive for a career doesn't pay the electrical bill each month.”

“And a slap on the back that we appreciate your service doesn't pay the gas bill, either,” said Rogers, adding that state lawmakers have ignored Oklahoma government workers.

Many state employees have said their pay is declining because of an increase in insurance costs.

“My salary is decreasing every year because of the frozen benefit allowance and the rising cost of our insurance,” said Sheri Herren, a social service specialist for the Department of Human Services in Ponca City, who spoke with The Oklahoman in January. “I went from $1,520 to $1,480 in net (pay) last month.”

With more than 6,000 employees, the Human Services Department is one of the state's largest agencies. The average salary for case managers, child care licensing specialists, child support specialists and social services specialists, which account for one-third of all jobs in the department, is less than $34,000.

The average pay for all state employees is $43,432, which is 24 percent below the market average, according a compensation report from the Office of Management and Enterprise Services.

A quarter of the state's 32,000 employees make less than $30,000 a year, according to The Oklahoman's review of state salaries.

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