On Friday, September 6th, members of the Texas State Employees Union (TSEU) held 6 rallies and press conferences across Texas, calling on elected officials to support emergency funding to provide state worker pay raises and stabilize the Employees Retirement System (ERS). September 1st marked the five-year anniversary of the last pay raise for most state employees, and the 18-year anniversary of the last pension increase for retired state agency employees. State Representatives joined the union members at the rally, and called on the 10 members of the Legislative Budget Board to authorize the emergency funding for state employee pay and pensions.
TSEU members gathered outside multiple Texas Health and Human Services Offices during their lunch breaks and expressed frustration with the elected officials passing over state employees and retirees, while legislators have increased their own pensions and received cost of living adjustments.
“It’s beyond hypocritical for state legislators to receive a $4,300 increase in our per diem while most state employees won’t even see a penny increase this year, and haven’t brought home a raise in 6 years,” said State Representative Ron Reynolds. “The Ethics Commission recognized the need for us, as elected officials, to keep up with the rising cost of living. For us to ignore the need for a pay raise for state employees isn’t just unethical, it’s a callous slap in the face to state employees. ”
According to data from the State Auditor’s Office, state employee turnover has never been higher (19.3%), and exit surveys indicate low pay is the number one reason employees choose to stop working for the state. TSEU member Ilesa Daniels said staff turnover was creating a vicious cycle. “Underpaid and overworked employees leave for better pay, creating more work for those who stay, which causes more employees to leave, and new employees to be overwhelmed when they set foot in the door. Turnover has never been this bad, and we need Legislators to address it now, not later.”
State Representative Armando Walle cited the growing number of Legislators who have called on the Legislative Budget Board to support emergency funding for pay raises and the ERS. “Since the final budget we passed failed to address it, the Legislative Budget Board needs to step up and approve an across the board raise. Over 50 of my colleagues in the Capitol have already requested that the LBB take action. Ignoring the turnover crisis in state agencies, or waiting two years for the next budget, is a disservice not just to state employees, but to the Texans you serve.”
Oralia Gonzalez, a retired union member and a State worker for 32 years, said workers need that little help from the state to have a better quality of life.“We haven’t had a significant pay raise since 18 years ago and, you know, we struggle with the groceries and the prices are high now,” she said. “The regular employees, they have been without a pay raise since five years ago and I feel that our legislators should do something about this; we need a pay raise, we need it.”
State Representative Alex Dominguez said that the Legislature could not continue to ignore its responsibility to state employees and retirees. “Our state employees are the backbone that make Texas the incredible and prosperous state that it is. We have to compensate them fairly for their hard work and dedication.”
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