The Oregon state employee., October 01, 1948, Page 11, Image 11

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From 1932 to 1943, those State em­
!(<Qregon has the greatest undeveloped
ployees who remained faithful and loyal areas ^and resources K any region on the
to State service took a beating at the Pacific Coast.
hands of their employer. They carried
Oregon is attracting more hopeful
a heavy load and were truly the "for­ home-seekers than any other State in the
gotten man” for whom little was done. Union.
These facts are now publicly recognized, -^Oregon has the ability to develop its
at a very late date and after much dam­ public services to a position of dignity
age to state service has. occurred. Then, and decency.
in 1943, an organization of state em­
State employees have accepted low
ployees,, The Oregon State Employees
Association, began to function" a s j || salaries in every year since 1942, which
sounding-board for employees attitudes have totaled $19,000,000 LESS than in­
and as a champion of good government dustry would have paid for the same
for the State. It carefully avoided tying- Services. This $19,000,000 has been a
in with national labor unions,* as it gift to the State -from its employees.
The cost
living in Oregon has in­
wanted to work for Oregon on a State
basis without resort to the dictates of creased 40% since 1943. The State em­
outside leaders and the resulting power ployees average wage- has increased but
politicsfso frequentH^agsoclated with na­ 33% in the like period.
Nearly 40% of those taken into State
tional union methods.
service each year stay less than one year.
The OSEA believed at its inception, A large majority leave the State to work
and still does, that a solution of Ore­ elsewhere at a higher rate of pay.
gon’s wage problem lies in education of
It cost the State money to continu­
the employee, the State administrator ously train new employees for their
and the people of the State. They ask work, especially when so many leave af­
for fairness and consideration of the ter becoming experienced. The State
problem by ALL on the merits of the runs a tra in in g school ¿Fpr industry at
case.
the expense of the taxpayer!%
Since 1943; the average monthly rate
The la j||| turnover in employees costs
of all State employees has risen from a the Stafe?mon^ M g ) by taking the time
low $1£9 to „its present average rate of of the experienced help, (b) by disrup­
$232. That is an increase of about 4 ^|9 tions in service due to uncertainties of
O f course, that modest $232 includes a sufficient help, (c) by lowering morale
$20 cost of living adjustment gmStive of those who B a y while others come,
since March 1, 1948 and destined to are trained and leave for better jobs,
vanish by December 31, 1948. A $212 %d) by the mistakes made by the inex­
average rate shows' only-la 3 3 EH increase perienced, and (e) by trying to func­
since 1943. This change for the better tion with a shortage of trained and effi­
is a direct result of the OSEA and its cient help.
activities^ and a recognition of a serious What Kind of Employee Is Wanted?
condition by? some administrators and
There are six classes of employees in
the 1945 and 1947 legislature.
State service at the present time: 1.
The present State w ag^ problem is as Those of retirement age who feel they
follows: Hew can Oregon attract and are needed to help fill the shortage of
hold its employees at a y^ge, scale aver­ experienced help and many of whom
aging $38 a month less than paid else­ cannot afford to retire on the pitifully
where for similar 'work?
small pension. 2. Those above 58 years
Facts and Figures
of age who can plan to retire or change
Oregon lags behind her sister-* States employers after 1951, and can protect
to the north and south in wealth, popu­ their pension while so doing. 3. The ex­
lation and public improvements.
perienced employee who has faithfully