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Mississippi Workers on Target for $1,500 Raise
Continuous lobbying and mobilization by the Mississippi Alliance of State Employees/ CWA Local 3570 has resulted in a legislative victory that will almost certainly lead to $1,500 a year raises for as many as 30,000 state workers, according to MASE/CWA President Brenda Scott.
On Jan. 26, Gov. Kirk Fordice (R) signed Senate appropriations Bill 2485, widely touted as a "test" bill, granting $1,500 raises to the two employees of the Board of Funeral Services and "up to $1,000 per annum for employees in critical job classes." Traditionally, when the governor has signed off on pay raises for one, lawmakers have included the raises in the appropriations bills for all state agencies.
MASE/CWA, with strong support from the national union and CWA District 3 staff, said Scott, has succeeded in ensuring that the raises are included in all appropriations bills, due on the governor’s desk prior to the end of the legislative session in April. While Fordice, lobbying for tax cuts, has held off signing the bills, House Speaker Tim Ford told the (Jackson) Clarion Register it would not be difficult to obtain the two-thirds majority necessary to override a Fordice veto.
"This is a wonderful example of what a local can achieve without the benefit of a collective bargaining law," said Brooks Sunkett, CWA vice president for public and health care workers.
In addition to mobilization training, Sunkett, his assistant Chris Kennedy, and CWA Representative George Powell have been working with Local 3570 to increase membership from its current 2,400. Kennedy has visited the local frequently to train and work with MASE/CWA activists.
"I think this may also have been one of the factors influencing lawmakers," Sunkett said.
"MASE/CWA will be a recognized force for achieving equality and justice in the workplace for all public workers in Mississippi," Scott stated at a "promise check" news conference Jan. 6, asking lawmakers to honor earlier pledges to make pay raises a top priority of the legislative session, and to grant $2,400 raises for all state workers.
House Speaker Ford (D) asked state Rep. Jim Evans (D), of Hines County, to set up a meeting with MASE/CWA the third week of January. Scott asked state AFL-CIO President Neal Fowler and CWA Representative George Powell to also attend. The meeting resulted in the $1,500 compromise figure and subsequent reassurance from Ford.
Scott praised the MASE/CWA executive board, staff members Betty Miller, Kenneth Gines and Ed Hatem, and office manager Gwen Farmer for providing leadership and support, as well as members who have mobilized at the state capitol regularly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Last March 17, MASE/CWA "Lobby Day," 600 Local 3570 members occupied the state capitol.
On Jan. 26, Gov. Kirk Fordice (R) signed Senate appropriations Bill 2485, widely touted as a "test" bill, granting $1,500 raises to the two employees of the Board of Funeral Services and "up to $1,000 per annum for employees in critical job classes." Traditionally, when the governor has signed off on pay raises for one, lawmakers have included the raises in the appropriations bills for all state agencies.
MASE/CWA, with strong support from the national union and CWA District 3 staff, said Scott, has succeeded in ensuring that the raises are included in all appropriations bills, due on the governor’s desk prior to the end of the legislative session in April. While Fordice, lobbying for tax cuts, has held off signing the bills, House Speaker Tim Ford told the (Jackson) Clarion Register it would not be difficult to obtain the two-thirds majority necessary to override a Fordice veto.
"This is a wonderful example of what a local can achieve without the benefit of a collective bargaining law," said Brooks Sunkett, CWA vice president for public and health care workers.
In addition to mobilization training, Sunkett, his assistant Chris Kennedy, and CWA Representative George Powell have been working with Local 3570 to increase membership from its current 2,400. Kennedy has visited the local frequently to train and work with MASE/CWA activists.
"I think this may also have been one of the factors influencing lawmakers," Sunkett said.
"MASE/CWA will be a recognized force for achieving equality and justice in the workplace for all public workers in Mississippi," Scott stated at a "promise check" news conference Jan. 6, asking lawmakers to honor earlier pledges to make pay raises a top priority of the legislative session, and to grant $2,400 raises for all state workers.
House Speaker Ford (D) asked state Rep. Jim Evans (D), of Hines County, to set up a meeting with MASE/CWA the third week of January. Scott asked state AFL-CIO President Neal Fowler and CWA Representative George Powell to also attend. The meeting resulted in the $1,500 compromise figure and subsequent reassurance from Ford.
Scott praised the MASE/CWA executive board, staff members Betty Miller, Kenneth Gines and Ed Hatem, and office manager Gwen Farmer for providing leadership and support, as well as members who have mobilized at the state capitol regularly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Last March 17, MASE/CWA "Lobby Day," 600 Local 3570 members occupied the state capitol.