Longevity Pay Threat Continues – Contact Legislators Now

Two weeks ago, TPEA asked that you call the members of the House Committee on Government Efficiency and Reform to voice your opposition to HB 3168 by Representative Bill Callegari (R – Katy). Rep. Callegari’s bill included a provision that would end longevity pay for state employees. 

Your response was overwhelming! Members of the committee reported to TPEA that they received over 9,000 phone calls and emails in opposition to the provision. The anti-longevity provision has since been removed from the bill in part because of your strong and vocal opposition to it.

The threat to state employee longevity pay persists, and we need you to once again voice your strong opposition to this measure.

Freshman Representative Erwin Cain (R – Como) has a stand-alone bill (HB 2954)  that would abolish longevity pay and replace it with merit pay. Rep. Cain recently was asked about his bill and said, “Longevity pay seems to reward people for hanging around rather than performance. We’re just trying to give them incentive to tap into their abilities a little bit more.”

TPEA is strongly opposed to this legislation and will be doing all it can to voice our opposition to the bill.

HB 2954 is scheduled for public hearing this Thursday, April 28th.

TPEA is once again asking that you contact both Representative Cain and Representative Callegari to voice your opposition to this legislation. As always, please be courteous and professional.  Contact information is included to the right.

Please contact these lawmakers and let them know that you oppose the elimination of longevity pay. You may want to emphasize that the elimination of longevity pay would weaken the state’s ability to attract and maintain a productive workforce. Eliminating longevity pay could also cause a mass exodus of state employees that in turn would cost the state taxpayers far more money in the near and long-term.

TPEA Employee Survey Makes Headlines

Two weeks ago, TPEA asked you and your fellow state employees to participate in a survey about proposed legislative changes to state employee benefits and salaries.

State employees overwhelmingly responded to our request – more than 20,000 people participated – representing more than 10% of the state general government workforce.

The results are compelling, and we expect that several news media outlets will be reporting on this survey in the next couple of weeks.

The first of these articles appeared in the Austin American Statesman today.

Click here to view the article now.

Also, you may view the results by clicking here.

Thank You Senator Robert Duncan - Senate Retains Current Health Care Benefits

In another important victory for state employees along the legislative path, the Texas State Senate was able to restore enough money into its budget to maintain the current health care benefit structure. The full Senate will vote on the budget at the end of this week before negotiations between the House and Senate begin to create the final version of the state budget.

Realizing the importance of providing quality benefits to the state workforce, State Senator Robert Duncan (R –Lubbock) worked closely with TPEA to help create a plan to maintain the current health care benefit model and the state’s contribution toward employee and retiree premiums. Additionally, the state will continue increased contributions to the main ERS retirement fund and the supplemental LECOS fund alike.

Please take the time to mail Senator Duncan’s office to thank him for his leadership and support by using the address in the box next to this section. We are asking that you do not call the office in an effort to avoid clogging the Senator’s phone lines.

Bill to End Defined Benefits Retirement Plan Heard in House Committee

Today, April 26, 2011, the House Committee on Pensions, Investments, and Financial Institutions held a hearing on HB 2506 by Representative Warren Chisum that requires ERS to create a defined contribution plan – commonly referred to as a 401K plan – for all new state employees hired after September 1, 2012.

TPEA believes that defined contribution plans will severely restrict the state’s ability to attract and maintain hard working state employees. TPEA is strongly opposed to this legislation and testified against it. We do not anticipate that this bill will receive a favorable recommendation from this committee, but will continue to monitor it and ask for your help if we think it is a threat going forward.

Update on Exposure of State Employee's Personal Information

TPEA continues to gather new information about the exposure of personal information of approximately 3.5 million people, including state employees and retirees.

If you have not yet received a letter in the mail from the Comptroller’s office or visited the informational website, http://www.txsafeguard.org, to address the situation, please do so now.

Your identity could be at risk and it is important that you take action now to protect yourself and your family.

CSIdentity is an identity guard service provided by TPEA benefits partner AMBA and is offering discounted rates to persons whose information is at risk because of this breach. Please click here or go to http://csidentity.com/txsafeguard/ to view the offer.

Get Involved, Join TPEA Today!

If you are one of the recipients of our newsletter who is not a TPEA member or if you're unsure whether or not you are a member (click here to verify your membership status), consider joining today! TPEA now offers an online application form for payroll or annuity deduction, as well as payment by credit or debit card. At only $6 per month active and $2.50 per month for retirees, TPEA membership is one of the best investments you can make in the future of your pay and benefits as a state employee.

Click here to join TPEA!