Missouri State Workers Lobby for Fair Pay, Job Security

State workers in Missouri, like their colleagues in many other states, are underpaid and overworked. For the past three years, they have been denied a fair wage increase, and have suffered from understaffing, the threat of privatization, and possible layoffs. In a recent survey by Governor's magazine, Missouri ranked 48th out of 50 states in level of pay for state employees.

MSWU members are fighting back. More than 180 members and supporters turned out for the annual Lobby Day on April 2 at the state capitol in Jefferson City. They rallied on the capitol steps and then lobbied legislators on issues ranging from pay raises to keeping the lid on healthcare premiums to privatization of the state's foster care program.

Pay Raise
Obtaining a pay raise was MSWU's primary goal this legislative session.
They began by meeting with SEIU and AFSCME, unions that also represent state workers in Missouri, and agreeing on pushing for a $2,000 increase. Many were pessimistic about achieving any increase, given the budget crisis facing Missouri.
After being pressured, both the governor and legislators agreed to a $600 increase for all state workers earning $40,000 or less. This increase survived a fierce budget battle between the Democratic governor and Republican-dominated legislature. After a showdown, resulting in two special sessions called by the governor over a balanced state budget, Gov. Bob Holden finally signed a budget that contained cuts in education and services while including a wage increase.

Children Services
The state's foster care program came under fire last year following the death of a child in the system. Young Dominic was killed by his foster father.

Republicans conducted hearings throughout the state for most of last summer soliciting testimony from family members who have experienced the removal of children by DFS. The day prior to the release of their report, Gov. Holden announced a reorganization of DSS. The commission's report attacked DFS and Children Services workers directly.
During this period the judicial system also pointed an accusatory finger at Children Services.

As the legislative session began, freshman Republican Speaker of the House Catherine Hanaway introduced H.B. 369, legislation that threatened to completely overhaul DFS. While some of the provisions made some sense, other sections, such as sovereign immunity and privatization, were extremely harmful to our members. Removing sovereign immunity would allow state workers to be sued for malpractice, financial disaster for already underpaid workers.
On March 12, 2003, MSWU conducted a caucus of Children Services members from across the state to assemble and prioritize what they, as professionals, believe to be the issues affecting their work. This report was then presented to the governor and members of the legislature.
H.B. 369, Speaker Hanaway's bill, was on a fast track through the House. Privatization and removal of sovereign immunity were still intact when the bill reached the Senate. After intense lobbying, MSWU members were able to salvage sovereign immunity but privatization remained. The bill, as it sits on the Governor's desk, provides for 50% of the Children Services cases to be privatized by 2005.