3
Tetnpernry Pay Geest Granted
Gat Prices Cent ¡nue te Gear
It is with pleasure that the Oregon
State Employees Association acknowl
edges the recent meritorious action of
the State Emergency Board in making
possible a $20 per month raise in salary
to State employees.
creasingly costing the state in loss of
trained personnel, inability to. employ
capable technical skill and inevitably
lowered morale, and initiative among
the many financially hard pressed pres
ent employees.
Salary Adjustment Is Temporary
Officials Give Serious Consideration
As all members well know and as all
state employees should realize, this cost
of living adjustment has been made
from emergency funds to cover budget
controlled departments and is to come
from the non-appropriated funds of
self-sustaining departments, The salary
adjustment, effective June 1, 1948, for
all classified service employees is to run
only for the balance of the year. By
January 1949 the State legislature will
be in session. The legislature will be
advised of the problem of inadequate
state salaries and will, no doubt, give
the matter its thorough and sympathetic
study t-
The OSEA believes that the serious
ness of the problem is now recognized
and appreciated by our highest State
Officials, by the Board of Control, the
Budget Director, the State Emergency
Board and the Civil Service Commis
sion. We are of the opinion that these
administrators are sinceerly concerned
with being fair and just and are mind
ed to discharge their responsibilities ili
the true interests of the State’s and em
ployees’ welfare, ,
Prcblem Still Existing
The OSEA originally requested a
$42 per month cost of living adjust
ment to be effective January 1, 1948.
The request represented at that time the
average amount by which state salaries
Were below average requirements for a
reasonable living standard. Much ef
fort has been Expended and many heart
breaking episodes have been oUr lot in
pushing this justifiable request to some
conclusive action. | Since our first re
quest, living costs have increased and
the state worker’s average purchasing
power has been correspondingly de
creased. Our objective of "parity pay”
is still far from realization and the
State government still lags far behind
others as a fair-paying employer. The
granted increase helps, but does not
cure, the disease of low pay which is in
State Financial Problems Still Unsolved
It is regrettable that the great State
of Oregoù has found itself so poor—yet
with a large fund of untouchable monJ
ey in its- treasury. This ¿ondition is the
more condemnatory when one realizes
that state financial limitations have
caused real suffering to many state em
ployees and have decreased the efficiency
of JtlW functions of the State as the peo
ple expect them to be maintained. That
such a condition exists is in no way the
fault of the present government offi
cials. It involves the need for establish
ment of business-like procedure by thé
legislature. Corrective measures are re
quited to. bring Oregon into a position
worthy of the growth and develop-
/nent which is the State’s right. We feel
confident that the necessary measures
will be' taken.
Officials Deserve Commendation
Although much is yet to be desired,
the OSEA commends those responsible
for the recently granted temporary sal-