Oklahoma City – The Oklahoma Public Employees Association has named state representative Mike Shelton “Legislator of the Year.” The award was presented this week at OPEA’s annual convention in Claremore.

Rising grocery and gas bills are nipping at the wallets of most state employees; but not all state employees are suffering as much as others. The Oklahoma Public Employees Association is angered at the recent five percent pay raise given to 267 judges and elected officials and calls for all state employees to be placed under this same system.

State agencies and their employees will have a chance to discuss the possibility of moving to a four-day work week at a public hearing at the State Capitol Wednesday, July 9th. The meeting will be held in room 432A from 10 am until noon.

Officials with the Oklahoma Public Employees Association (OPEA) are commending efforts by workers at the Norman Veteran’s Center (NVC).

Critical shortages at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester are being spotlighted by the OSP Chapter of the Oklahoma Public Employees Association (OPEA). The Association, which represents state employees, is stepping up campaign efforts over the next 90 days and asks for support from the entire city of McAlester.

Members of the Oklahoma Public Employees Association (OPEA) are sending a direct message to state lawmakers: “Leave us out—we’ll vote you out.” OPEA members held a spirited but peaceful protest rally today on the south steps of the State Capitol.

Citing a total lack of consideration by legislative leaders toward state employees performing essential services to Oklahoma taxpayers, Oklahoma Public Employees Executive Director Sterling Zearley today took issue with the recently agreed upon general appropriations bill for FY ’09.

A measure that would offer massive tax incentives to a potential Oklahoma City NBA franchise has met with resistance from State Representative Brian Renegar (D-McAlester), who feels legislators should instead focus on a state employee pay raise.

Saying “workers in the Department of Corrections are warning that the system has reached a breaking point”, the Oklahoma Public Employees Association called for pay raises for all state employees and additional funding to fill staffing shortages and address agency infrastructure needs.

State Rep. Brian Renegar (D-Blanco) and State Sen. Kenneth Corn (D-Poteau) have both publicly endorsed state employee pay raises for the upcoming legislative session.

Salaries for state workers, while registering a modest increase, lagged behind the market, according to the 2006 Compensation Survey published by the Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management, released this past December as mandated by state statute.

A recently filed injunction by the U.S. Justice Department regarding the lack of sufficient control at the L.E. Rader Juvenile Center in Sand Springs confirms longtime assertions by the Oklahoma Public Employees Association that consistent under funding and understaffing of the center by the legislature results in tragedy for all concerned.

As part of its efforts to encourage accountability in state government, the Oklahoma Public Employees Association today announced its support of SB 1, known as the “Taxpayer Transparency Act,” by Senator Randy Brogdon, as it awaits action by Governor Brad Henry.