Image provided by: SEIU Local 503; Salem, OR
About The Oregon state employee. (Salem, Oregon.) 1944-195? | View Entire Issue (April 1, 1948)
4 ary increase. We believe that they have earnestly applied themselves to a tre mendous problem, hâve acted to the fullest extent possible with the limited funds available, and have evidenced a real concern for the State’s employees and their problems. In this spirit, we look forward to continued progress in the handling of employee problems.We pledge our continued full cooperation in supporting all measures and actions which will provide improved public^ service in governmental functions. President’s Message on Salaries and Wages The people of Oregon throughout the years have taken thé' State em ployees for granted. They have assum ed that most of us have a good paying position. /The new sitem s that have been in the press from tinte to time during the past six months about our wage problem haye, I believe, enlight ened and helped them to realize that the State’s business can be conducted properly only with the help of quali fied employees who receive a just wage for their Services. The "cost of living salary increase” which the- Oregon State Employees As sociation was instrumental in securing was not only a moral victory for the Association, but was also of some fi nancial help to all State employees. Our Governor, Budget Director, the mem bers of the State Emergency Board and Civil Service Commission áre to be commended for the cooperation they gáve us. While the "increase” is in adequate, we realize that under the present State financial system, addi tional funds are available only H leg islative appropriation. In conducting the State’s business,* regardless of whether or ndt the de partment is self-sustaining or operates by appropriation from the State gen eral fund, the Legislature by law, in the approval or disapproval of the prepared budgets,, determines the amount of funds available for each and every op erating division of the State Govern ment. You have heard many discussions and have also read articles in the press about the surplus in the income and excise tax funds which by the end of this biennium will exceed $5 0,000,000. You have also, no doubt, learned that it is the opinion of our Attorney Genera^ that these funds could be transferred to the general fund, and that a test case is being made for the purpose of hav ing the subject passed on by the Ore gon Supreme Court. It is exceedingly important to have this problem deter mined by the Court as quickly as pos sible so' that action I ¿lay be taken to bring the subject before the people at the coming November election through initiative petition > tnqit Court should decide that the funds are not available without a; vote of the people. Regardless of the manner in which funds are made available, no funds can be used except by appropriation of the Legislature. I believe that the serious wage problem that now confronts each and -every department.and which has been brought .;to the attention of the people of this State through our ef forts will insure favorable action by the members of the 1949 Legislature— not only their approval p lth e budgets which should include a just wage for all State employees, but also the ap proval of a salary emergency fund as recommended by our association at the 1947 session.. During the coming months prior to the convening of the 1949 Legislature, the Civil Service Commission will, I am sure, make an exhaustive survey of salaries and wages being paid in private industries in Qregon and wages paid other public employees in Oregon as well as salaries paid to the employees of the other Northwest States, and present a new wage strife ?to the next Legisla ture for all classes of employment, not only for the biennium beginning July 1, 1949, but also for the six months beginning January 1, 1949.
