IN THE NEWS - 88TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION
In the News:
TPEA is diligently working this session to get enhancements for all of our members. Click to read articles regarding issues relating to state employees and retirees here:
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State Pay Raises But No Relief for Retirees in Biennial Budget
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Will Texas teachers, state employees get pay raises? The answer is tangled in these bills. - Forth Worth Star Telegram
- Texas' retired state workers deserve a raise - Houston Chronicle (PDF Version)
- No pay bump since 2001? Retired Texas government workers deserve updated pensions - Austin American Statesman (PDF Version)
- Imagine 20 years without a pay raise? - Cass County Citizen
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Strong pushes to add more money are continuing, including pressure to give retired state employees a financial boost, as the state appears to be doing for retired teachers, more money for schools, and additional targeted raises to employees in agencies that are particularly overwhelmed.
“Turnover is higher in state government than ever, so the two 5% pay raises [for state employees over the next two years] will finally help agencies recruit and retain good employees,” said Ann Bishop, executive director of the Texas Public Employees Association, which advocates for state workers, among other groups. “We hope the budget can also include targeted raises for agencies that have identified critical needs and a pension boost for retired employees — who haven’t had one since 2001.” Article: House panel advances new Texas budget with property tax cuts, teacher pay raises - The Texas Tribune
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"Bishop, who currently serves as the executive director of the Texas Public Employees Association, didn’t have paid parental leave at the time, and could only take one week of unpaid leave to bond with her new family.
“The most difficult part was finding daycare,” Bishop told the Senate Committee on Business and Commerce on Tuesday. “When you are a natural birth, you can plan for that a little bit. When you are an adoptive parent you are told one day, you go pick up your child the next day." Article: Texas Republicans and Democrats coalesce around proposals to expand paid parental leave - KERA News
- “State workers have not seen a general pay raise since 2014,” Bishop said in a statement. “With a historic state surplus, this is the ideal time to make an overdue investment in those Texans who are on the front lines of providing needed services throughout Texas.” Article: Texas' record-breaking surplus is now nearly $33 billion - The Texas Newsroom (NPR)
- "And the executive director of the Texas Public Employees Association, Ann Bishop, argued lawmakers should consider helping government employees, saying "state workers have not seen a general pay raise since 2014." Article: Texas announces record $33B budget surplus - UPI
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"The proposed pay raises for state employees earned applause from a group that advocates for those workers, 22% of whom left their jobs last year and who, as a group, have not seen a general pay raise since 2014, said Texas Public Employees Association Executive Director Ann Bishop.
“The proposed pay raise for state workers is welcome news. We fully support increasing salaries by 5 percent for each of the next two years, and we thank legislative leaders for their commitment to all Texans who serve the public and keep our state running daily," Bishop said." Article: Texas Legislature’s state budget proposals leave more than $50 billion in state funds up for grabs - Texas Tribune
- Also in: Hill Country News, KERA News
Retirees need a stipend!
TPEA Board members and staff provided testimony, advocated with legislators, and utilized the news media to support a 13th check or other retirement benefit enhancement.