SEIU Local 2000

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Missouri Probation and Parole Close to Winning Repositioning!

Jefferson City – Over one hundred and fifty Missouri Probation and Parole Officers met at the Truman Building here to attend the Personnel Advisory Board/Office of Administration hearing on repositioning October 14.

Repositioning, originally proposed by the Missouri Association of Probation and Parole Officers (MPPOA) in 1998, would raise officers from their current pay range of 21 to a pay range of 23 and end a five year battle to increase probation and parole officers wages.

While in Jefferson City Denise Hodge, of District 19, said, “We are underpaid. We are here to make our voices heard and influence the decision of the Personnel Advisory Board.”

Hodge added, “We are the second lowest paid probation and parole officers in the country. We deserve repositioning. And we’re going to win!”

Shelia Anderson said, “We deserve a raise. We keep the community safe.” Anderson added that probation and parole officers weren’t asking for special treatment. Instead, she suggested, “We just want to get up to par with the rest of the nation.”

Anderson was also disappointed by the inadequate health care coverage provided to state workers. “We work for the state. It is the states obligation to provide health care to its employees,” she said.

While the Personnel Advisory Board didn’t make a decision October 14 they did discuss repositioning and there is strong support for changing the pay range from 21 to 23.

Rick Hanley said, “many probation and parole officers haven’t had a pay raise in three years. At the same time our insurance cost have gone up. If this gets any worse we wont be able to afford any health care.”

“Repositioning is the least they can do,” Hanley added.

The Personnel Advisory Board is expected to meet and decide on Repositioning in early November.