From Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7076:

Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7076 called for action from the New Mexico State Government to address pay inequities hurting its most experienced employees late last week.

The State’s failure to consider years of experience and education when determining pay causes workers salaries to fall behind the longer they work in state services. An analysis of available employment data found that nearly 1,000 State employees with five or more years of service were paid less than newly hired employees in the same position. Shortchanging long-serving employees puts working families in an impossible financial position and is causing an exodus of workers out of state service. 

The State Personnel Office reported one in six employees voluntarily left employment in fiscal year 2023. The overall vacancy rate rose to over 20% at the beginning of this Administration and remains at 22% today. CWA estimates that vacancy rates for non-management state personnel is generally much higher with some work groups at a rank and file vacancy rate of 30%.

“The Governor has failed to take action to address this situation. With nearly 1 in 4 state positions vacant, it’s no wonder that New Mexicans are having a hard time getting the services they need from state government,” CWA 7076 President Megan Green said. 

CWA analyzed the State’s Sunshine Portal, a public data source of employee payroll data, and found that 962 employees with at least five years of service earned less than the average pay of a worker in the same position with less than one year of service. One in five State employees (21%) with15 years of service in their position were earning less than the average pay of workers in the same position with less than one year of service.

“We began this research at NMED where we found that our most senior employees were hurt the most by pay inequity. Some were underpaid by $10-15/hour for professional classifications, including scientists and engineers. These employees were being asked to train and mentor new employees with less experience who were making more money on their first day on the job,” said CWA 7076 Executive Vice President Linsey Hurst.

The State’s Environment Department requested $6.2 million to resolve pay disparities from the legislature in January following action by CWA. CWA is now taking action by filing grievances on  behalf of its 1,901 experienced workers in the other 12 agencies they represent, demanding that the state use its appropriate placement process to resolve pay disparities. The appropriate placement process considers an employee’s years of experience and education to determine equitable compensation and ensure more senior workers are not punished for staying in their positions longer. State agencies have failed to evaluate appropriate placement for its workers, sometimes for decades, leaving hundreds behind. 

“The State is losing many of its best workers to an unfair pay scheme, meaning it is less prepared to serve the needs of New Mexicans,” Green said.

CWA is demanding state agencies take immediate action to resolve existing pay disparities and establish a system to prevent this emergency in the future.