FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jeff Mazur, (573) 635-9145, mazur@afscmecouncil72.org
Statement: Missouri AFSCME opposes lack of Nixon action on state worker pay
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Michelle Mason, a Developmental Aide at Bellefontaine Habilitation Center in north St. Louis County and member of AFSCME Council 72, today released the following statement in response to Gov. Jay Nixon’s fiscal year 2016 budget proposal:
“Missouri state workers care for our veterans, nurture developmentally disabled children, put themselves at risk in our prisons and receive lower pay than the workers in any other state. The budget proposed tonight by Gov. Jay Nixon promises to keep Missouri workers stuck at the bottom of the pile.
By not proposing a wage increase for state workers, the governor suggests that thousands of Missouri families should fall even farther behind. Those of us in public service understand tight budgets. But we reject the notion that tough times are a reason to give up on making life better for hard-working people.
I and my fellow AFSCME member state workers believe that true leaders among Missouri’s policy makers must create a long-term, multi-year plan for making Missouri state pay competitive with our neighbor states and reflective of the vital work we do.”
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AFSCME Council 72 represents thousands of public sector workers in the states of Missouri and Kansas, including state, county, municipal, school board and home care workers. It is an affiliate of AFSCME, which represents more than 1.6 million workers, and of the AFL-CIO.
